How effective is non-custodial sentencing in achieving compliance with road traffic law?

Abstract

As we are all aware, the vast majority of road traffic offences – if known and processed - result in one particular type of non-custodial sentence, the fine, but there is also an increasing emphasis on community sentences which involve drug and alcohol treatment requirements for certain road traffic offences. Within that context we have been asked to review what we know about the effectiveness of non-custodial sanctions generally but specifically in relation to road traffic offences. This has proved to be a surprisingly difficult task for various reasons.