Perception and Attitude of the General Population of Saudi Arabia Towards Texting While Driving

Abstract

Background and Aims: In order to assess the risk of texting while driving, the study looked at the distractions that affected how well drivers performed. Additionally, it aimed to assess Saudi Arabia’s level of awareness, usage, and risk of cell phone use while driving, as well as any necessary safety measures. Methods: This study was a descriptive, community-based and cross-sectional study conducted in Saudi Arabia from March 2022- May 2022. Before answering the questionnaire, participants provided informed consent. There are no sensitive or private questions in the questionnaire, and their identities are kept strictly confidential. Results: In total, 1108 (76.3%) of the 1452 participants said they were texting while driving, while 344 (23.7%) said they were not. Texting while driving was deemed dangerous by 1000 (90.3%) of 1108 participants. 732 (66.1%) participants were aware of current local laws pertaining to texting while driving, while 376 (33.9%) were not. 666 (60.1%) participants agree that the modification of laws making it illegal to text while driving is acceptable. Conclusions: The vast majority of participants were familiar with the rules governing road safety. The new research backs up previous claims that texting affects how well a driver performs in a driving simulator. This is primarily for calling and reading/writing messages, and it is strongly associated with an increased risk of accidents. These findings imply the need for ongoing education and public service messages that emphasize the risks associated with this unsafe driving practice while minimizing the perceived benefits of the behavior.