“They are kids, they’re making bad choices, but they are not bad kids”: motivations and deterrents for joyriding amongst Australian youth

ABSTRACT

Car theft and joyriding are becoming increasingly common in regional areas of Australia. Whilst the consequences of these actions can be fatal, surprisingly little is known about the motivations for young people who engage in these behaviours. This exploratory study draws from 17 in-depth interviews that were conducted as part of a pilot intervention program aimed at adolescents either already engaged or susceptible to car theft and joyriding behaviours. The findings suggest that joyriding predominately attracts disenfranchised youth who lack opportunities for education, employment, and leisure. For these adolescents, joyriding emerges to counterbalance disadvantage and alleviate the monotony in their lives. Interviewees also provide suggestions for deterring joyriding, such as providing young people with occupational opportunities that allow them to serve as role models to themselves and others and adrenaline-based activities to replace the thrills of joyriding.

KEYWORDS:

• Youth
• car theft
• joyriding
• motivations
• deterrents

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. A ‘regional area’ is a socio-geographical definition used in Australia to describe populated regions outside of major/metropolitan cities (Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth).

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by a 2021-22 Community Partnership Innovation Grant from the (then named) Queensland Government’s Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs.