Lyndel Bates1,2, Bridie Scott-Parker3,4,5, Millie Darvell2, Barry Watson2,6. 1. a School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Griffith Criminology Institute , Griffith University , Brisbane , Australia. 2. b Queensland University of Technology, Centre of Accident Research and Road Safety-Queensland (CARRS-Q) , Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation , Brisbane , Australia. 3. c Adolescent Risk Research Unit (ARRU), Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience-Thompson Institute , University of the Sunshine Coast , Queensland , Australia. 4. d School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Business, and Law , University of the Sunshine Coast , Queensland , Australia. 5. e Sustainability Research Centre, Faculty of Arts and Business , University of the Sunshine Coast , Queensland , Australia. 6. f Global Road Safety Partnership , Geneva , Switzerland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: P plates (or decals) identify a driver's license status to other road users. They are a compulsory part of the graduated driver licensing system in Queensland, Australia, for drivers on a P1 (provisional 1) or P2 (provisional 2) license. This study explored the perceptions of young drivers regarding the display of P plates (decals) in Queensland, Australia. METHODS: In this study, 226 young drivers with a provisional (intermediate/restricted) license completed a 30-min online survey between October 2013 and June 2014. t Tests were used to compare the opinions of people who displayed their plates nearly always with those who displayed them less frequently. RESULTS: Participants approved of the requirement to display P plates with 69% of those on a P1 license and 79% on a P2 license supporting the condition to display P1 (red) plates. Participants on a P1 license (62%) and a P2 license (68%) also approved the requirement to display P2 (green) plates. However, young drivers also perceived that the display of P plates (measured from 1 = never to 5 = nearly all the time) enabled newly licensed drivers to be targeted by police and other drivers (those who do not always display P plates: M = 3.72, SD = 0.94; those who nearly always display P plates: M = 3.43, SD = 1.09). CONCLUSIONS: The study findings suggest that participants who nearly always display their P plates are more likely to report that having to display their plates resulted in them driving more carefully.
OBJECTIVE: P plates (or decals) identify a driver's license status to other road users. They are a compulsory part of the graduated driver licensing system in Queensland, Australia, for drivers on a P1 (provisional 1) or P2 (provisional 2) license. This study explored the perceptions of young drivers regarding the display of P plates (decals) in Queensland, Australia. METHODS: In this study, 226 young drivers with a provisional (intermediate/restricted) license completed a 30-min online survey between October 2013 and June 2014. t Tests were used to compare the opinions of people who displayed their plates nearly always with those who displayed them less frequently. RESULTS:Participants approved of the requirement to display P plates with 69% of those on a P1 license and 79% on a P2 license supporting the condition to display P1 (red) plates. Participants on a P1 license (62%) and a P2 license (68%) also approved the requirement to display P2 (green) plates. However, young drivers also perceived that the display of P plates (measured from 1 = never to 5 = nearly all the time) enabled newly licensed drivers to be targeted by police and other drivers (those who do not always display P plates: M = 3.72, SD = 0.94; those who nearly always display P plates: M = 3.43, SD = 1.09). CONCLUSIONS: The study findings suggest that participants who nearly always display their P plates are more likely to report that having to display their plates resulted in them driving more carefully.