Designed to deter: community perceptions of police vehicles, markings and the certainty of apprehension and punishment
Levi Anderson, Lisa BuckleyPurpose
This study explores how police vehicle design influences public perceptions of enforcement capability and driver behaviour. It addresses a gap in the literature on how specific visual elements shape perceived certainty of apprehension, certainty of punishment and the duration of deterrent effects.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 Queensland-licensed drivers aged 18 years and older. Participants commented on the design elements that were most salient to them when it came to police vehicles. Participants also evaluated various police vehicle designs through open-ended questions and image-based rating tasks. A thematic analysis identified themes in perceptions around police vehicle designs and reported behavioural responses.
Findings
Participants consistently distinguished vehicles by visual cues, particularly the markings and bright colour of the vehicle impacted perceived deterrent effects. Traffic enforcement-focused vehicles, such as Highway Patrol cars and motorcycles, were seen as more deterrent than general duties (GD) vehicles, producing stronger immediate behaviour change and longer-lasting “halo effects”. Vehicle type, base vehicle colour, markings and visible equipment were described differently relative to perceptions of enforcement capability, the perceived role of that vehicle and associated behavioural responses.
Practical implications
The findings suggest that strategic police vehicle design serves as a force multiplier, enabling agencies to maximise deterrent impact with limited resources. Highly visible, purpose-designed traffic enforcement vehicles may yield greater road safety outcomes than deploying generic police vehicles.
Originality/value
This research provides a detailed examination of drivers' perception of police vehicle designs and the way in which such designs are associated with deterrence perceptions, offering evidence for consideration during vehicle procurement and deployment strategies to enhance road safety outcomes.