It is not used in the Netherlands, it is in France and it has also recently been introduced in Spain. The driver’s license combined with a points system.

The idea for such a system is that the drivers habit can be measured over a longer period. And with it the system will be able to influence persistent (dangerous) behavior.

In the Netherlands, the system was not introduced because of an investigation that revealed that the (statistical) chance someone gets caught for an infringement was too small. “Therefore,” the effect on the drivers’ behavior (especially younger drivers) would not be enough to justify the implementation of such a system. (There is always some investigation to find that will reject a certain proposition)

Spain did launch such a points system this month. If you now drive on the highway you are signaled that throwing away a cigarette stub will cost you four (4) points (out of twelve).

But will this sort the right effect? Forest fires are number one priorities during summer, but I would like to see the first driver get caught throwing away his cigarette. Indeed, it has al to do with credibility. As for the implementation of any system; the implementation itself is never the real issue. The real issue is – certainly for these kind of systems – the measures that you need to support it. In this case the right and sufficient amount of control to make the system work.

If this extra control is missing the additional warning the introduction of such a new approach will loose it effect easily. In that case the cost could have been spend on other things, for example to increase the amount of control.

© 2006 Hans Bool