Evaluation of the Crash Course March 2009 - De Montfort University

One reason that most fear-inducing ‘Scared Straight’ programmes are not effective,
they argue, is that they fail to take account of these messages or of the
psychological research into the specific components of attitude-change messages
summarised above (Windell and Allen, 2005).
A challenging issue for Crash Course is clearly in the area of providing
recommended actions that are perceived as effective for reducing the threats raised
by the presentation itself, particularly as most of the young audiences are not yet
driving. Since the course deals with road safety, there will always remain an element
of risk perceived as attached to driving or otherwise using the roads. However, if this
undermines the young people’s perceptions of their own abilities to take effective
action in addressing the risks they are presented with, there is the danger that the
messages will not be as effective as they might be. Messages presented will need to
take account of these potential problems, and perhaps avoid references to the
inherently risky nature of road use outside of that attached to the specific behaviours
being addressed, or emphasise the effectiveness of particular behaviours or courses
of action in reducing the associated levels of risk.
There is also the issue that whilst some recommended actions might seem
achievable to those presenting the messages, they might not be so perceived by the
recipients. Windell and Allen (2005), for instance, note that whilst messages about
avoiding criminal behaviour might seem straightforward to police officers presenting
‘Scared Straight’ programmes, the individuals involved may not themselves believe
that they have the power to avoid criminal behaviour. Similar issues may well apply
to young people’s risk-taking behaviours on the roads – especially where they are
carried out as part of a social group. This issue relates to the provision of options for
coping strategies and is likely to remain a challenge for the course.
3.4 Implications
These research studies crystallise a number of questions for the assessment of the
effectiveness of the Crash Course, which can be examined in the light of the
evidence in this study. They will be revisited in the conclusions and include the
following:
• Does the Crash Course provide fear-based messages of sufficient impact to
motivate the audience to deal with them?
• Does the Crash Course also provide the individual with effective actions and
coping strategies that can reduce the perceived threat?
• Does the course make use of affective components as well as information in
order to affect attitudes?
• Is there any evidence that the young people pick up an awareness that they
are perceived as dangerous drivers and react to it?
• Is there any evidence that young people are engaging in risk-taking behaviour
on the roads in response to peer pressure or as part of their identity
formation?
• Is there any follow up to the Crash Course to repeat and reinforce its central
messages?
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