Sydney, AUSTRALIA | Beijing, CHINA | Hyderabad, INDIA | London, UK Affiliated with the University of Sydney

The role of research within the novice driver licensing policymaking process Hinchcliff R 1,2 ; Ivers R Q 1,2 ; Poulos R 3 ; Chapman S 2 ; Senserrick T 1,2 1 The George Institute for International Health, Australia; 2 The University of Sydney; 3 The University of New South Wales

Introduction -Road trauma involving young drivers is a significant problem -Graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems are designed to address this problem -Critical GDL components include age, alcohol and mobile phone restrictions

Introduction

-Many controversial, yet likely effective components have not been introduced in Australia -Further understanding of the GDL research- policy relationship is required

Aims -To identify the main factors influencing research utilisation in GDL policy -To identify enabling strategies to encourage increased research utilisation

Night-time and peer-passenger restrictions -Effective yet widely opposed -Generated significant community, media and political attention -Diverse policy models created using the same evaluation research

Study Design 1: media analysis -Analysis of relevant newspaper articles published between 2004 and Analysis of relevant television reports between 2005 and Identification of peaks in coverage and main arguments used by prominent news actors

Peaks in print media coverage High profile crash and release of NSW public discussion paper High profile crash and formation of NSW Young Driver Advisory Panel

Framing strategies

Study Design 2: case studies -Analysis of the partial introduction of night- time and/or passenger restrictions in NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, PA (and Washington DC) -Domestic and international comparison to generate broad generalisations -48 interviews between 2007 and 2009

Methods -Diverse groups of GDL policy actors -84% response rate -Participants asked to comment on research: demand, quality, dissemination, opportunities for input into policy, key utilisation barriers and facilitators

An ‘evidence-informed’ culture -Fosters policy actor demand for research -Considerable opportunity for research exchange due to extensive networks and inclusive policymaking structures -Research used ‘instrumentally’ and ‘tactically’ (Wiess 1979)

Key barriers and facilitators of research utilisation in policy BARRIERSFACILITATORS Increasing ‘academic culture’Incentives for researchers to engage in the policy sphere Inappropriate dissemination of research to policymakers Appropriate research dissemination to policymakers Ill-informed media reportage and community perceptions Effective media advocacy

Conclusion -Research ‘informs’ policy -Dissemination of research to policymakers and the community is most critical -Address all ‘policy-relevant’ issues, use an appropriate style and advocate during peaks in media coverage

Acknowledgements -NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust -The George Institute for International Health -The University of Sydney -The Sydney University Graduates Union of North America