NCJ Number
134206
Date Published
1968
Length
63 pages
Annotation
This compilation of reports discusses criminological aspects of road traffic offenses, research concerning the characteristics of motoring offenders, and desirable developments in the administration of justice.
Abstract
The first report considers the damage caused to persons and property by road traffic and related offenses. Faced with the magnitude of road traffic offenses, the criminologist may approach the problem in two ways: focus on the study of road traffic offenses only or look at all factors influencing driver behavior in order to identify preventive or punitive measures that prevent accidents or at least limit the amount of damage caused. In presenting research on the characteristics of motoring offenders, the second report deals with several issues: whether motoring offenses are predominantly accidental phenomena in which individual factors are largely irrelevant, the extent to which motoring offenders represent a homogeneous group that is unique in the criminological sense, and the extent to which criminologists can explain the motoring offense phenomenon. The relevance of accident studies is discussed along with typological criteria that may be characteristics of motoring offenders such as mental state, sex, age, occupation, marital status, driving experience, and attitudes. The third report notes desirable developments in the administration of justice including better laws, improved penal procedures, improved sentencing methods, and enhanced criminological research. References