An exploratory study of parent acceptance of sanctions for driving offenses committed by their children

Abstract

Objective

Graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems are effective at reducing young driver crashes but rely on active parental involvement. However, some parents may accept sanctions (e.g., demerit points, monetary fines) for traffic offenses committed by their children, leading to experiences of punishment avoidance by young drivers. This aim of this exploratory study was to investigate several demographic and psychosocial influences that could possibly be associated with parent acceptance of sanctions.

Method

An online survey was completed by parents of young drivers (N = 149, M = 48.88 years, SD = 4.76 years; female = 86%) from 3 Australian states. The survey included measures of sociodemographic characteristics and driving history (e.g., crash involvement), socioeconomic status, parenting style, knowledge of their child’s driving behavior, perceptions of their ability to manage their child’s driving, attitudes toward GDL, and previous or potential acceptance of demerit points or payment of fines for road offenses committed by their child.

Results

Twenty-nine percent of parents had accepted or would accept a sanction on behalf of their child. Number of children overall, number of children licensed, and household income were associated with parent acceptance of a sanction. Parenting style, attitude toward GDL restrictions, parent confidence in their knowledge of GDL restrictions and ability to manage their child’s driving, and belief that their child would follow rules were not associated with (non)acceptance of a sanction.

Conclusions

These exploratory findings suggest that family size and income may be important influences on parent acceptance of sanctions on behalf of their offending children. The findings related to the psychosocial variables are discussed considering other research and the limitations of the study.

Keywords:

• Punishment avoidance
• demerit points
• graduated driver licensing
• novice driver
• teen driver
• deterrence theory

Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges Professor Narelle Haworth, Professor Barry Watson, Associate Professor Lyndel Bates, Associate Professor Gregoire Larue, Dr. Ashleigh Filtness, Alana Hawkins, Levi Anderson, and Marina Alexander, who were involved in designing and conducting the larger research program in which the current study was conducted. In particular, Associate Professor Bates is thanked for providing feedback on the initial drafts of this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council’s Linkage Projects funding scheme (Project LP140100409). The Australian Research Council was not involved in conducting the research.