Traffic Citation Study

The goal of this study is to determine whether young males between the ages of 16-24 receive more traffic citations than any other group. We surveyed different age groups, both males and females, to determine the results. These results can not provide reliable explanations for what individual officers are thinking when they decided to stop or cite a particular motorist, however, it can help to identify whether certain groups are disproportionately given out more citations than others.

Traffic Citation Study
Our study was based on our hypothesis that young male drivers, age 16-24 receive more traffic citations than any other age group. We thought this to be true because it would appear that the driving hazards and the high speeds that males display while driving are simply one manifestation of a method of living that has been demonstrated in a males personal life. It has been said that that a man drives as he lives. If his personal life is marked by caution, tolerance, foresight, and consideration for others, then he would drive in the same manner. If his personal life is devoid of these desirable characteristics then his driving will be characterized by aggressiveness and this particular type of male driver will receive more citations than his stable companion. Nowadays, most young males are living the wild life. They have not completely become stable, mature adults.
Our team goal was for each team member to hand out enough questionnaires to ensure that we each would receive at least 10 completed questionnaires to utilize in our research. As all team members live in a different parts of the United States, we were able to gather responses from all over the country. A total of 56 responses were received; 28 male and 28 female responses were compiled.
Although this information was not relevant to our hypothesis, the income and education level of the respondents were required information on our surveys. The majority of men answering the survey made over $65,000 per year, while the majority of females made $35,000 – $65,000 per year. Overall, the level of education was almost equal between the male and female respondents, and fell within the “some college” category. Only a small portion responded by stating they had only a high school education, or a Masters or higher degree of schooling.
Our age groups did vary with all age groups represented from age 16 up to age 60. However, the majority of our research information came from the age categories of 21-30 for females and males, and from the 31-40 age group for females alone.
Overall, women received more traffic citations then men. The majority of citations issued for both men and women fell under the category of moving violations. Women received more moving violations than men did, yet men received more equipment violations than women. Men stated that the time of the day they were pulled over was almost equal in both the a.m. and p.m.. Women however, stated they were more often pulled over in the a.m. hours.
It seems that men were slightly more likely to get a citation on the highway versus residential streets. Yet, women claimed they were cited just as often on residential streets as they were on highway roads.
Men seemed to believe that neither their age, the vehicle they were driving, or the fact that they were male had much of an impact on them being pulled over. On the other hand, some women seemed to believe that these three categories do have an influence on whether a person received a citation or not. However, the majority of women agreed with the men in that the gender, age, and vehicle type did not have an influence on whether a citation would be issued.
Once a research study has been concluded, researchers then collect their data and analyze the data to find out answers to their original hypothesis or research question. In our study the surveys were handed out and afterwards we reviewed and discussed our collected data. We began this research study with the hypothesis that, “young male drivers, age 16-24 receive more traffic citations than any other age group.” Our results were based on surveys from 28 female and 28 male surveys.
In all categories that we surveyed, females seemed to have answers to our questions that negated our hypothesis. We questioned each individual’s income, education and city and state in which they live in. These basic questions were meant to be used simply for the groundwork of our study. Had we had more time and resources we could have compared traffic citations based on income and education on the individuals.
In every category, women received more traffic citations than men. Men had a higher number for receiving no traffic violations than women. Our findings also found that men received more equipment violations than women. Men stated they were pulled over most often both in the am and pm hours. Women however, stated they were pulled over in the am hours more often than the pm or both am and pm hours.
It seems that men were more slightly more likely to get a citation on the highway versus residential streets but there is not a significant enough difference to really claim one over the other in regards to highways. It is apparent by our graphs that women were more likely to receive citations then men. The majority of the 28 male respondents considered age to have nothing to do with getting a citation.
Reliability of a study is based upon whether or not the study’s techniques or methods can be repeated and have similar results. Our research team has reviewed their discussion of this issue and we are not confident of this survey’s reliability. For one, we feel we did not adequately reach the population available to us. Many of us sent the survey via emails or handed them out to friends, family, or co-workers while detailed attention was not given to making sure a true random group of varying of all ages was covered. We started with age 16 for the survey yet we were not able to get the surveys out to high schools or colleges; our subjects were unintentionally older and more established in careers.
There were also a few issues with the wording of questions and slight organization problems for those who had to provide more than one answer for some questions. These questions were a little assumptive in that they did not allow for those with more than one or two citations. The basic structure of the survey if an altered population was chosen would perhaps be reliable.
Our procedures, if duplicated, might not produce the same results yet most of us feel that if the same questions were used then similar results would be likely. It is difficult for us to honestly say since we agree that our major problem was sample size. Our concern with the reliability of this survey was that our sample size was so small thus making it difficult to assume that a repeat study would produce similar results. If we were to repeat using a broader sample of respondents and tighten up the questions then perhaps that study would be significantly more reliable than this first one.
It is easy to see that many improvements should have and could have been made to the survey. Most of the improvements that were recommended focus on either changing the format of a question or posing a follow-up question for clarification. However, there were a few questions that should have been added. Yet, there were many questions that were asked that bore no relevance to our hypothesis.
As far as changing the format of some of the questions asked, it was determined that many questions should have been fill-in the blank rather than multiple choice. The age of the survey taker should have been a fill-in the blank. This question was a multiple choice question in the survey, where our crucial age group was overlooked by offering a choice that did not include this group. Also, the number of citations received should have been a fill-in the blank type of question. Additionally, this is one of the questions that should have had a follow-up question.
The follow-up question should have asked for the respondent to indicate at what ages they received a traffic citation. This question should have been a crucial question that was overlooked in the survey that was issued to all of the respondents. Perhaps a fill-in the blank category should have been created for the responded to indicate, rather than have a multiple choice question, what the reason for the citation was.

Questions dealing with income level, education, and opinion questions had no bearing on the hypothesis. Time of day and location of traffic stops that resulted in violations were also irrelevant to the hypothesis. These questions were irrelevant to the research study. Also irrelevant was the question that asked what type of vehicle the respondent drove when they were cited. Yet, these questions were interesting in the fact that other conclusions could have be made from this data.
Another improvement that could have been made was that the survey could have been administered in an interview form. It seems that a few respondents did not understand a few questions and had to ask a team member what the question was asking. Additionally, a question on the survey was unanswered by some of the respondents. Not that this question (income level) needed to be answered to support the hypothesis, but it goes to show that some questions may have been answered if more clarity was given, perhaps through the use of an interview-type questionnaire.
As we can see, based on the methodology of our survey, our hypothesis was not true. Although we now know, that if replicated, the study could be improved.