New Road Safety Policies and Citizen Motivation

Abstract

Empirical evidence undoubtedly shows that new road safety policies
enforced in Spain since 2004 have had a positive impact on driver
behaviour, which has subsequently produced a considerable reduction
in crash fatalities. However, researchers have yet to analyze the social
mechanisms at work and, specifi cally, what impact these policies have
had on citizen motivation. Have they had the «pedagogical» effects that
are often taken for granted? After analyzing all the data which allow us
to answer this question,we conclude that they do not show any positive
change in citizen motivation, and that increased compliance seems to
be due exclusively to deterrence.