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Bunching on the Autobahn? Speeding Responses to a 'Notched' Penalty Scheme

Author

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  • Christian Traxler
  • Franz Westermaier
  • Ansgar Wohlschlegel

Abstract

This paper studies drivers’ responses to a ‘notched’ penalty scheme in which speeding penalties are stepwise and discontinuously increasing in speed. We present survey evidence suggesting that drivers in Germany are well aware of the notched penalty structure. Based on a simple analytical framework we analyze the impact of the notches on drivers’ optimal speed choices. The model’s predictions are confronted with data on more than 150,000 speeding tickets from the Autobahn and 290,000 speed measures from a traffic monitoring system. The data provide evidence on modest levels of bunching, despite several frictions working against it. We analyze the normative implications and assess the scope for welfare gains from moving from a simple, notched penalty scheme to a more complex but less salient Pigouvian scheme.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Traxler & Franz Westermaier & Ansgar Wohlschlegel, 2017. "Bunching on the Autobahn? Speeding Responses to a 'Notched' Penalty Scheme," CESifo Working Paper Series 6786, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_6786
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    Cited by:

    1. Stefano Castriota & Mirco Tonin, 2019. "Stay or Flee? Probability versus Severity of Punishment in Hit-and-run Accidents," BEMPS - Bozen Economics & Management Paper Series BEMPS65, Faculty of Economics and Management at the Free University of Bozen.
    2. Libor Dušek & Christian Traxler, 2024. "Swiftness and Delay of Punishment," CESifo Working Paper Series 10906, CESifo.
    3. Panagiota Papadimitri & Ansgar Wohlschlegel, 2020. "Lobbying and Enforcement: Theory and Application to Bank Regulation," Working Papers 2020-01, Swansea University, School of Management.
    4. Christian Traxler & Libor Dušek, 2023. "Fines, Non-Payment, and Revenues: Evidence from Speeding Tickets," Berlin School of Economics Discussion Papers 0023, Berlin School of Economics.
    5. Myhre, Andreas, 2021. "Intensive and Extensive Margin Labor Supply Responses to Kinks in Disability Insurance Programs," MPRA Paper 109547, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Jason Bantjes & Sophia du Plessis & Ada Jansen & Krige Siebrits, 2021. "Better enforcement is essential, but may be inadequate: Findings of a survey on the factors affecting payment of speeding fines in Cape Town, South Africa," Working Papers 03/2021, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    7. Travova, Ekaterina, 2023. "Under pressure? Performance evaluation of police officers as an incentive to cheat," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 1143-1172.
    8. Jason Bantjes & Sophia du Plessis & Ada Jansen & Krige Siebrits, 2021. "Better Enforcement Is Essential, but May Be Inadequate: Findings of a Survey on the Factors Affecting Payment of Speeding Fines in Cape Town, South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-16, April.
    9. Jelnov, Artyom & Klunover, Doron, 2022. "Speed limits," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    10. Aney, Madhav S. & Ho, Christine, 2019. "Deadlier road accidents? Traffic safety regulations and heterogeneous motorists’ behavior," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 155-171.
    11. Libor Dušek & Nicolas Pardo & Christian Traxler, 2022. "Salience and Timely Compliance: Evidence from Speeding Tickets," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(2), pages 426-449, March.
    12. Fry, Jane M., 2023. "Do increased speeding fines save lives?," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 34(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    notches; speeding tickets; stepwise penalty function; salience;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K40 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - General
    • D04 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Policy: Formulation; Implementation; Evaluation

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