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The effect of ‘smart’ financial incentives on driving behaviour of novice drivers

Mortimer, Duncan; Wijnands, Jasper; Harris, Anthony; Tapp, Alan; Stevenson, Mark

Authors

Duncan Mortimer

Jasper Wijnands

Anthony Harris

Mark Stevenson



Abstract

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Recent studies have demonstrated that financial incentives can improve driving behaviour but high-value incentives are unlikely to be cost-effective and attempts to amplify the impact of low-value incentives have so far proven disappointing. The present study provides experimental evidence to inform the design of ‘smart’ and potentially more cost-effective incentives for safe driving in novice drivers. Study participants (n = 78) were randomised to one of four financial incentives: high-value penalty; low-value penalty; high-value reward; low-value reward; allowing us to compare high-value versus low-value incentives, penalties versus rewards, and to test specific hypotheses regarding motivational crowding out and gain/loss asymmetry. Results suggest that (i) penalties may be more effective than rewards of equal value, (ii) even low-value incentives can deliver net reductions in risky driving behaviours and, (iii) increasing the dollar-value of incentives may not increase their effectiveness. These design principles are currently being used to optimise the design of financial incentives embedded within PAYD insurance, with their impact on the driving behaviour of novice drivers to be evaluated in on-road trials.

Citation

Mortimer, D., Wijnands, J., Harris, A., Tapp, A., & Stevenson, M. (2018). The effect of ‘smart’ financial incentives on driving behaviour of novice drivers. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 119, 68-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2018.06.014

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 16, 2018
Online Publication Date Jul 10, 2018
Publication Date Oct 1, 2018
Deposit Date Jun 22, 2018
Publicly Available Date Jul 10, 2019
Journal Accident Analysis and Prevention
Print ISSN 0001-4575
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 119
Pages 68-79
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2018.06.014
Keywords road safety, behavioural economics, financial incentives, driving behaviour
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/859731
Publisher URL https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2018.06.014

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