Novice drivers and parents: exploring the feasibility of third-party policing in reducing young driver offending

Abstract

Third Party Policing involves police partnering with other individuals or organizations in order to prevent or control crime and disorder. Given the high level of young driver crash rates and offences, an intervention based on Third Party Policing may reduce both. This study explored the feasibility of using this approach with parents, who would be the third party, and young drivers in the Australian Capital Territory. Semistructured interviews with 16 parents and 11 of their children were conducted. The results suggest that, given parents are supportive of the formal policing of young drivers and their willingness to impose additional restrictions on their children, that the introduction of an intervention based on a Third Party Policing framework is feasible. However, the lack of knowledge of GDL restrictions that apply to their child may make it difficult for parents to act as an enforcement authority in partnership with police. There is also the need to introduce a legal lever to support parents in their interactions with children and enable police to coerce parents into taking action.

The link between dangerous driving and other criminal behaviour: a scoping review

“…Procedural justice refers to the perceived fairness of laws and regulations and treating potential offenders with respect and dignity during police encounters. Similarly, the third-party policing framework, where police use legal levers to enlist organisations or individuals to undertake enforcement actions, has been explored in both road policing (Belsham et al , 2020; Belsham et al , 2019) and broader criminological contexts (Webster, 2015; Webster et al , 2018; Manning et al , 2016; Mazerolle et al , 2017). There may also be benefits in considering other psychological approaches such as Akers’ social learning theory and the theory of planned behaviour.…”