Theorising the effect of traffic calming initiatives on antisocial behaviour

• In Event: Theory-testing and relevant methodologies in criminological research

Abstract

This article seeks to theorise the different causal mechanisms that could be impacting on the prevalence of antisocial behaviour as a result of the adoption of traffic calming initiatives. To do so we rely on causal diagrams and a wide range of criminological theories, such as: routine activities theory, crime prevention through environmental design, broken windows theory, collective efficacy, and procedural justice. We also use data from OpenStreetMap and data.police.uk to explore the association between traffic intensity and police recorded antisocial behaviour at the LSOA level in London across the last decade. To eliminate time-invariant confounders we employ fixed effects models. We have also pre-registered a range of parameters to explore the possible bias resulting from differential measurement error affecting police recorded antisocial behaviour. This is because many of the causal mechanisms posited to reduce antisocial behaviour after traffic calming initiatives are adopted, are also expected to increase the reporting of crime to the police.

Author

• Jose Pina-Sánchez, University of Leeds