“We’ve got bigger fish to fry…” Key Informant Perspectives on Hoon Driving in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Nuisance driving, involving excess speed, loss of tyre traction, and/or the production of excessive smoke and noise (referred to in Australia as ‘hoon driving’), is typically problematised as reckless and dangerous. Local councils and government agencies have implemented specific deterrent- and enforcement-focused responses. However, there is a limited body of evidence regarding the specific harms associated with hoon driving. This article draws from a multi-modal study initiated by Victoria’s Department of Justice and Community Safety. It sets out findings from interviews with key informants (N=34) from state government; local councils; emergency services; and driving-focused agencies, programs and organisations. These interviews examined informants’ perceptions and experiences of hoon drivers, why they do it, and the harms associated with it.  Within a media and legislative context that increasingly demonises hoon drivers and positions hoon driving as inherently dangerous, key informants demonstrated understanding of nuance with respect to specific harms. This included the need to differentiate between fear and perceptions of potential harm, and actual risk and harms. A better understanding of why people engage in these activities could support more creative approaches (to deter and/or more appropriately enable hoon driving), which are place-based, community-specific, and which could more effectively prioritise and address concerns.