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Informing and inquiring: Experimental evidence on reducing traffic violations

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  • Zhang, Jinan
  • Perloff, Jeffrey M.
  • Lu, Fangwen

Abstract

This large-scale field experiment examines what kind of text messages from the police can reduce traffic violations in China. A warning treatment informed drivers that most intersections have traffic monitoring devices. A penalty treatment informed drivers of the penalty for running a red light in addition to the warning message. An inquiry treatment asked drivers for their opinions on how to best disseminate the warning message. The two information treatments did not affect the frequency of subsequent violations. However, the request for an opinion substantially reduce subsequent violations. A post-experiment survey suggests that the inquiry promoted a feeling of cooperativeness.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Jinan & Perloff, Jeffrey M. & Lu, Fangwen, 2020. "Informing and inquiring: Experimental evidence on reducing traffic violations," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:147:y:2020:i:c:s0304387820301097
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2020.102534
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    Cited by:

    1. Mahdie Asl-Javadian & Mahmoud Mesbah & Masoud Foroutan Shad, 2024. "How are traffic fines affected by the driver’s car price and the police officer’s discretion? A case study of Isfahan, Iran," Journal of Computational Social Science, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1019-1038, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Opinion seeking; Traffic violations; Field experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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