Research and development in criminal law and criminology

Research and development in criminal law and criminology

Identification and Presentation of Supplementary Penalty Strategies for Driving Offenses Using Documentary Analysis of Model Countries

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
mohsen moosaabadi 1
reza javadian 2
seyed mohammad hashemi 3
javad monazamitabar 4
1 PhD Student in Safety and Traffic, Amin University of Law Enforcement and Social Sciences
2 Associate Professor, Faculty of Road Guidance and Traffic Science and Technology, Amin University of Law Enforcement and Social Sciences
3 Assistant Professor of Law, Amin University of Law Enforcement and Social Sciences
4 Associate Professor of Social Sciences, Amin University of Law Enforcement and Social Sciences
10.22034/jclc.2026.2078725.1290
Abstract
Complementary punishments in traffic offenses, as effective tools going beyond mere financial fines, play a pivotal role in enhancing road safety and sustainably modifying driver behavior. This research aims to identify and comparatively analyze the strategies of complementary punishments for traffic offenses in six leading countries (United States of America, China, France, Germany, Turkey, and Japan). The research methodology employed in this study is qualitative and based on the documentary and content analysis of laws, regulations, official reports, and valid scientific studies in the selected countries. The research findings clearly indicate that most of the studied countries, by adopting a comprehensive, multi-dimensional, and systematic approach, have moved beyond traditional and purely financial penalties. These countries utilize an intelligent combination of various tools including an integrated demerit point system, direct driving license-related restrictions (such as suspension, revocation, and conditional issuance), vehicle restrictions (such as license plate or vehicle confiscation), and finally, educational, retraining, and rehabilitative interventions (such as mandatory courses and psychological assessments). The analysis results indicate that the certainty and swiftness of punishment enforcement have a far greater deterrent and corrective impact than merely increasing the severity of the punishment. Among these, suspension and revocation of driving licenses are recognized as the most effective and primary deterrent tools across all systems. Furthermore, demerit point systems that operate alongside automatic, impartial, and consistent enforcement of laws (such as the use of advanced cameras and integration of databases) significantly enhance general deterrence and the timely identification of high-risk offenders. Successful international experiences clearly demonstrate that the simultaneous combination of punitive measures with corrective-educational actions leads to sustainable behavioral changes and a reduction in recidivism rates among offending drivers. However, operational challenges such as the phenomenon of license point trading in China and deficiencies in the uniform and comprehensive enforcement of laws in Turkey have impacted the overall effectiveness of these systems.Finally, leveraging comparative findings and international lessons learned, this research presents a set of 20 practical executive strategies tailored to the context of Iran's legal and traffic system. These strategies are designed based on the conceptual framework of "Vision Zero" and emphasize the establishment of a comprehensive demerit point system, the acceleration and smart automation of administrative processes, and the enhancement of educational and rehabilitative interventions. The ultimate goal is to provide an operationalized and localized framework for improving road safety and sustainably reducing fatalities and injuries resulting from traffic accidents in the country.
Keywords
Road safety
Deterrence and rehabilitation
Driving offenses
Supplementary penalties
Subjects
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Research and development in criminal law and criminology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 08 May 2026