I Introduction

1.1. Background

The points-based licence, introduced in 1974 in Germany and 1992 in France, is being adopted all over Europe, but in different forms. The practical details have been left for each country to decide. France is one of the countries which has most developed the “educational continuum” aspect of the process. Drivers who have lost points can recover up to four points out of 12 by taking a course “designed to raise awareness about the causes and the consequences of road traffic accidents”, also known as a points recovery course, which they may attend once every two years. In theory, it is not necessary to have lost points to participate in a training course but in reality, partly due to the cost of courses, only drivers whose licence has been weakened attend them.

The growing involvement of central government in enforcement, as witnessed by the increase in the number of automated traffic control systems installed, has resulted in an increase in the prevalence of loss of driving licence points, and consequently an increase in the number of persons taking points recovery courses.

Several studies have described offenders but only few course-takers. An impressive body of literature has shown that crash involvement can be predicted using the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ). Studies conclude to a link between self-reported driving behaviour and crash involvement (Parker, West et al. 1995; Parker, Stradling et al. 1998; Sullman, Meadows et al. 2002; Gras, Sullman et al. 2006). Drummond and Kouabenan’s paper concerned links between the perception of danger and the risk (Drummond 2000) (Kouabenan, Gandit et al. 2007). The results of Billiard on satisfaction of the course-takers introduces sociodemographic characteristics (Billard 2002) . Perez-Diaz underlined differences between men and women concerning offences, accidents and mental representations (Perez-Diaz 2004). Vasseur highlighted strong identification of the course-takers with their vehicle. For him, their offences are part of a way of life, a manner of becoming apparent (Vasseur 1996). The typology of offenders by Vernet and Blanchard concluded that differences between categories are more linked to personality than to violations (Vernet and Blanchard 1997) (Blanchard, Rousnidis et al. 1996). Datchour and Dionne concluded to a link between points on driving licence and injury (Dionne and Vanasse 1997; Dahchour 2002).The positive link between driving licence points and risk of accident in Quebec resulted in insurance policies depending on each person’s number of points (Dionne and Vanasse 1997). Our study differs from the literature in that it makes a comparison between recurrent offenders taking a points recovery course and the general population of drivers. It extends and updates former studies and our previous paper, which described a typology of self-declared “offenders” and “victims” among course-takers (Nallet, Bernard et al. 2008). It answers the question: do those taking points recovery courses constitute a sub-population?