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SARTRE 3: support for enforcement

A majority of the Dutch drivers supports the present traffic measures or believes extra measures must be taken in order to improve road safety. This is one of the results of the third SARTRE study that was carried out in 2002 in Europe. Measures that find a lot of support are more police surveillance lower alcohol limits for new drivers, introduction of a black box in the car, inprovement of driving education, road improvements, and more information.

 

In each of the 23 participating countries, a representative sample of approximately 1000 car driving licence holders was asked about speed limits, drinking and driving, police surveillance and their opinions on traffic measures. SARTRE, an abbreviation of "Social Attitudes to Road Traffic Risk in Europe", was carried out in 23 European countries, including the Netherlands, and also took place in 1991 and 1996.

Some of the Dutch results are discussed below.

 

More enforcement, better driving education, more information, better roads

The participants were asked which topics need to be given more attention by the government in order to improve road safety. It appears that 65% is in favour of an increase in enforcement, 76% thinks the driving education needs to be improved, and 68% believes more publicity campaigns are necessary.

 

Enforcement: speeding and alcohol

Almost half of the drivers reported ever having been fined for speeding. Despite these fines, 65% of the motorists believes that there should be more police surveillance. There was considerable support for the use of cameras, both for speed and for ignoring red lights. To prevent speeding, a speed limiting device may be effective: 41% is in favour of installing one in the vehicle. According to a majority, speed limits, especially urban and provincial ones, hardly need to be changed. 75% of the motorists indicated that urban and provincial speed limits had to remain the same.

Opinions about speed limits on motorways are divided: 50% think that the limit should go up, while 44% believe that the present limits should stay the same. 3% believe that limits on motorways should be abolished, while a similar percentage wants to lower the limits.

Use of alcohol when driving is clearly not acceptable: almost all motorists in the Netherlands feel that drinking and driving should be punished more severly. The majority also thinks that the present limit of 0.5‰ should be stricter. 57% think that no alcohol should be consumed at all before driving. According to 31% the limit should stay the same, and 10% think the limit should go down further, to 0.2‰ for instance. For novice drivers the limit should be 0‰, according to 70% of the Dutch drivers.

 

New measures

The majority of the motorists who were interviewed is in favour of the introduction of new measures like a mandatory course for drivers who have been caught under the influence of alcohol more than once. Other new measures which can improve road safety are also supported like an alcohol lock in the car (39%), a fatigue detector (55%), and the intoduction of a black box which can record the cause of a crash.

 

Using the phone while driving

Approximately 30% uses the phone while driving. About 20% of the Dutch drivers makes 1 or 2 phone calls per day with an average car use. 9% makes 3 or more calls per day while driving. It is remarkable that the majority of Dutch drivers believes that phoning handsfree is less dangerous than phoning handheld. Research has shown, however, that both are equally dangerous.

 

Policy recommendations

The study indicates that Dutch motorist have a number of incorrect ideas on a number of specific topics. Information and education could inform drivers about the dangers of using the telephone while driving (both handsfree and handheld) and about the use of seatbelts. Many drivers appear to have the idea that they will be trapped by the belt in emergencies. Publicity and education should also pay attention to tailgating and the risks of speeding.

 

The official, international SARTRE final report is being prepared and will probably be made available in early 2004. The complete report of the results for the Netherlands (in Dutch with an English summary; number R-2003-25) can be studied and downloaded from the SWOV website, under the heading 'Publications'.

SWOV Research Activities 24 – December 2003

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