The link between dangerous driving and other criminal behaviour: a scoping review

Bates, Lyndel; Alexander, Marina; Webster, Julianne · 2022 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1108/sc-02-2022-0009

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Summary

This scoping review investigates the relationship between dangerous driving and other criminal behaviors, addressing a gap in literature where road safety and general criminology often operate in silos. The authors aimed to determine the extent of this link and identify the criminological theories used to explain it. The study was motivated by the potential for information-led policing to improve road safety and reduce wider offending by recognizing that serious criminals may not specialize in a single type of crime. The researchers followed Arksey and O’Malley’s five-step scoping review methodology, searching databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest for studies published between 1990 and 2019. After removing duplicates and screening for relevance, twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies utilized various methodologies, primarily relying on existing government or law enforcement datasets, with some incorporating police interviews or task logs. The review focused on empirical research examining the correlation between dangerous driving—defined as impaired driving, high-range speeding, or unlicensed driving—and non-traffic criminal offenses. The findings indicate a strong association between dangerous driving and general criminal behavior. Specifically, driving under the influence (DUI), driving unlicensed, and high-range speeding were significantly correlated with other crimes, including violence, burglary, drug offenses, and public disorder. For instance, DUI offenders were found to be two to three times more likely to commit other crimes, and drug-driving offenders in London had an average of 14 prior offenses. Demographic analysis revealed that young, male drivers were disproportionately represented among those engaging in both dangerous driving and general crime. The review also noted that while seven of the twelve studies referenced criminological theories, such as Deterrence Theory, Routine Activity Theory, and the Theory of Self-Control, these frameworks were often not well-integrated into the analysis. No studies employed explanatory psychosocial theories. The authors conclude that dangerous driving can serve as an indicator for broader lawlessness, supporting the emerging framework of Self-Selection Policing, which suggests that serious offenders can be identified through "trigger" offenses like erratic driving. The review highlights the need for future research to explore individual and social influences contributing to this cross-situational consistency in offending. Practically, the findings suggest that police agencies could develop information-led approaches to target recidivist offenders, potentially enhancing road safety and crime prevention. However, the authors caution that road policing must continue to prioritize general road safety for all users, and interventions based on these links must be carefully implemented to avoid over-policing.

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• aggressive driving