Informing and inquiring: Experimental evidence on reducing traffic violations

Abstract

This large-scale field experiment examines what kind of text messages from the police can reduce traffic violations in China. A warning treatment informed drivers that most intersections have traffic monitoring devices. A penalty treatment informed drivers of the penalty for running a red light in addition to the warning message. An inquiry treatment asked drivers for their opinions on how to best disseminate the warning message. The two information treatments did not affect the frequency of subsequent violations. However, the request for an opinion substantially reduce subsequent violations. A post-experiment survey suggests that the inquiry promoted a feeling of cooperativeness.