A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Zululand, 2004. / This research is based on an epidemiological study of deviant driving behaviour. The data collection phase implemented a self-report survey to capture data on deviant driving behaviour. The study seeks to establish:
• Differences between deviant driving behaviour and respondents' demographic characteristics: gender, race, marital status, occupation, regularity of driving and type of motor vehicle usually driven.
• Relationships between deviant driving behaviour and respondents' age, education, income, duration of passing a formal driving test and the period a motor vehicle has been driven.
• Whether aggressive and anxious drivers do commit traffic offences more regularly than other drivers.
• The differential rating of selected aspects of traffic policing.
Research techniques implemented, include:
• A literature study of deviant driving behaviour, reflecting various theoretical approaches to the referent object
• A measuring instrument (questionnaire), capturing various theoretical constructs and, as such, makes provision for a checklist of deviant driving behaviour in the form of seven statistical scales.
• Non-probability sampling through which 722 respondents were selected and included in the study.
• Statistical tests of reliability of the measuring instrument and four hypotheses.
Statistical findings indicate the following:
• Sisnificant sender differences in self-reported deviant drivins behaviour. Male respondents reported the highest scores of aggression; females reported the highest scores of anxiety in driving activities.
• Deviant driving behaviour differs significantly according to respondents' race and marital status.
• Professional drivers featured predominantly in aggressive and offensive driving behaviour, document offences and the operation of defective vehicles.
• Deviant driving behaviour differs significantly according to respondents' driving experience (regularity of motor vehicle driving and type of vehicle).
• Significant relationships exist between deviant driving behaviour and respondents' age, education, income, duration of passing a formal driving test and the period a vehicle has been driven. Relationships assume both positive and negative directions. The correlation between anxiety and number of years a vehicle has been driven, is not significant
• Drivers who display signs of aggressive and anxious driving behaviour, do commit traffic offences. Positive relationships exist between aggressive-anxious approaches and informal driver training. Positive correlations exist between traffic (driving) offences, document offences and the operation of defective motor vehicles and aggressive behaviour.
• No significant correlations have been observed between deviant driving behaviour and informal driver training.
Differentiai rating of traffic policing according respondents' education, race, occupation, income, etc., is also observed.
Traffic officers' susceptibility to bribery creates a particular problem for authorities.
The following non-prescriptive recommendations are entertained:
Enhancement of formal driving tests, driver training and traffic education.
Disposal of convicted deviant drivers by criminal courts.
Pedestrian education.
Surcharge.
Periodic inspections of motor vehicles. Provision for. more traffic officer employment Prevention of corruption (bribery) in the traffic situation. Establishment of a Road Traffic Infringement Agency. Road engineering. Future research.
The study succeeded in revealing "hidden" deviant driving behaviour among respondents who reside in the jurisdiction of the uMhlathuze Qty Council and adjacent areas.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uzulu/oai:uzspace.unizulu.ac.za:10530/432 |
| Date | January 2004 |
| Creators | Khoza, Vukayibambe Isaac |
| Contributors | Potgieter, P.J. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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