Views of police legitimacy and the impact on transient and fixed traffic offending patterns: a quasi-longitudinal study

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between young drivers’ views of police legitimacy and their compliance with traffic laws. Understanding this relationship will support future interventions to prevent young driver offending. Focusing on young drivers is critical due to their tendency for riskier driving behaviours linked to higher numbers of crashes when compared with other age groups. Design/methodology/approach The research involved two groups of young drivers who shared their views of police legitimacy and their self-reported driving behaviours through both in-person and online surveys. One group attended a police-led road safety program, the other was recruited online as a comparison sample. Analytical methods, including mean and t-test analyses and regression, were used to examine the connection between views of police legitimacy and driving offences over time. Findings Findings indicated that young drivers who underwent a police-led road safety program initially had higher views of police legitimacy, which diminished over time. In contrast, the comparison group displayed relatively steady perceptions with minor variances. Notably, views of police legitimacy predicted transient driving offences reported by young drivers. Practical implications This research reveals that views of police legitimacy held by young drivers significantly predict transient offending behaviours which should be considered as a conduit for behaviour change in this demographic. Although initial views following a police-led program were positive, they declined over time, highlighting the necessity for sustained positive interactions between police and young drivers. Originality/value This study provides novel empirical evidence on how views of police legitimacy influence different types of traffic offending among young drivers over time. Unlike prior research, which has largely relied on cross-sectional designs or focused on general compliance, this quasi-longitudinal study distinguishes between transient and fixed offending behaviours and demonstrates that police legitimacy consistently predicts transient, situational offences but not more entrenched behaviours.