Mobile Phone Distraction Research Articles

Analysis of pedestrian crossing violations at an overpass location by using a logit model

Jaywalking significantly increases accident risks compared to marked crosswalks. Overpasses are often installed to address this, but violations continue. This study examines pedestrian behavior at overpass locations, focusing on 438 individuals recorded on video. Factors like parked vehicles, gender, age, group size, mobile phone distraction, carrying items, the number of waiting pedestrians upon arrival, waiting times, and traffic volume were analyzed. Since jaywalking is more frequent during off-peak hours when traffic is not congested, observations were made at random intervals during these times. A binary logit model was used to identify the factors influencing jaywalking. The study found that points of interest near overpasses significantly affect pedestrian behavior. Additionally, parked vehicles near the overpass reduce crossing distance, encouraging jaywalking. Policy recommendations include implementing parking restrictions and strategically locating overpasses to align with pedestrian movement patterns and nearby points of interest.

Driven to distraction: A systematic literature review on the role of the driving context in mobile phone use

Mobile phone use is one of the most frequent causes of distraction among drivers. While there have been a significant number of studies that have examined individuals’ intentions to use a mobile phone while driving, the influence of individuals’ in-situ judgement of driving conditions has received considerably less attention. The aim of this investigation was to provide a systematic understanding of how factors associated with the driving context and environment influence a driver’s decision to engage in mobile phone use while driving. Following a systematic classification scheme, 41 research articles from the years 2011 to 2020 were reviewed and synthesised to identify the contextual determinants of mobile phone distraction. Overall, the findings provided support for the role that contextual features play in influencing individuals’ mobile phone use engagement. This finding was particularly the case in instances where mobile phone tasks required relatively high cognitive and physical demands on an individual, such as texting and/or reading mails. The findings also indicated that as contextual complexity increases, mobile phone use decreases as well. A deeper understanding of the relationship between contextual factors and phone use while driving may aid in the design of more efficient driver support systems and the development of distraction-sensitive road design guides. This understanding can also assist in the identification of mobile phone use hotspots and the improvement of law enforcement and educational strategies to prevent the behaviour.

Effects of mobile phone-related distraction on driving performance at roundabouts: Eye movements tracking perspective

Modern road infrastructures are complex networks featuring various elements such as roads, bridges, intersections, and roundabouts, with advanced control systems. Roundabouts have gained prominence as a safer alternative to traditional intersections promoting smoother traffic flow and fewer collisions by guiding traffic in one direction, encouraging reduced speed, and minimizing conflict points.This study investigated driver behavior within roundabouts, focusing on gaze behavior, particularly the left-side mirror and window, under mobile phone distraction conditions. In addition, the effects of roundabout specifications (i.e., number of lanes and size of the central island) and the drivers’ characteristics (i.e., driving experience) were examined.In total, 43 participants, aged 19–56 years including 30 males and 13 females, held a valid driving license, drove through a virtual simulated urban road containing four roundabouts, implemented in a static driving simulator, under baseline condition (no distraction) as well as mobile-induced distraction. Driving simulator data were collected and drivers’ gaze direction and fixation on nine areas of interest were captured with an eye tracker. Resultsshowed that experienced drivers exhibit a more fixation on the left-side mirror and window and were less distracted. Moreover, the road environment, i.e., the number of cars and the roundabout size, significantly influenced the drivers’ attention. As regards the driving performance, the number of infractions increased when the drivers diverted focus from the left side of the car. The outcomes of the present study might help to improve traffic safety at roundabouts.

Exploring the Behaviour Change Wheel and the Theoretical Domains Framework in interventions for mobile phone driver distraction: A scoping review

Mobile phone use while driving remains a significant traffic safety concern. Although numerous interventions have been developed to address it, there is a gap in the synthesis of relevant information through a comprehensive behaviour change lens. This scoping review uses the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to examine the literature to (a) identify behavioural constructs targeted in interventions for mobile phone use while driving, (b) determine if the intervention success varied by sociodemographic group (e.g., age, gender, driving experience), and (c) map interventions to TDF domains to highlight areas for future research. Following the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews, we searched seven databases and identified 5,202 articles. After screening, 50 articles detailing 56 studies met the following inclusion criteria: (a) intervention studies, (b) providing details on methods and results, (c) written in English, and (d) targeting any driver behaviour related to mobile phone use while driving with a bottom-up approach, using not regulation or law enforcement, but individuals’ psychological processes, such as cognitive, behavioural, and emotional. Findings show that most interventions targeted young drivers and were typically effective. Except for a few studies, the effectiveness of interventions targeting different sociodemographic groups either remained untested or revealed nonsignificant differences. This finding points to a gap in the literature, indicating a need for further investigation into the efficacy of interventions for different groups, and for tailoring and testing them accordingly. The interventions also often targeted multiple TDF domains, complicating the interpretation of the relative efficacy of specific domains. Most frequently targeted domains included beliefs and consequences, emotions, knowledge, social influence, social/professional role and identity, and behavioural regulation. Physical skills and optimism domains were not targeted in any intervention. Further, almost all interventions addressed deliberate engagement in mobile phone distractions, while the automatic and fast processes involved in such behaviours were often overlooked. Mobile phone distractions are in part habitual behaviours, yet the existing mitigation efforts mostly assumed intentional engagement. More focus on the habitual nature of mobile phone distractions is needed.

Evaluating interventions for phone distracted pedestrians in a virtual reality environment

Pedestrian safety is a significant concern for transportation professionals, especially the risky behaviour of pedestrians using mobile phones, such as entering a road crossing illegally or entering the crossing with a delay. While several investigations have highlighted the significance of mobile phone distraction while walking and interventions developed to mitigate this risk, the effectiveness of such interventions remains unaddressed. This research, therefore, investigated the effects of two distraction warning strategies, in-ground flashing lights and phone app, in a simulator-based virtual reality environment (N = 26). The study was conducted with a repeated measure design where participants participated in three scenarios (two with interventions and one without) while conducting a visually distractive task on a mobile phone. Twelve road intersections in the Brisbane CBD (Australia) were replicated and equipped with in-ground flashing lights or a phone app where the mobile phone screen edge colour changes based on traffic light signalling. A control condition of no intervention was also used. Each intervention was assessed to be beneficial based on reaction time and behaviour. Results showed the reaction time while using in-ground flashing lights as an intervention to be shorter compared to the mobile phone app and the control condition. The impact of in-ground flashing lights is greater in reducing the number of intersections where pedestrians do not comply with traffic signals and undetected green cycles compared to the mobile app. However, in considering traffic lights status checks and gaze toward traffic before crossing, in the mobile phone app condition participants checked traffic lights and road traffic before crossing in more intersections than with in-ground flashing lights. This study has shown that both intervention techniques can be suitable to improve pedestrian awareness at intersections when distracted by a mobile phone. In an environment where reducing the use of mobiles is unlikely, these interventions could be implemented to decrease risky behaviours and should therefore improve pedestrians’ safety. Finally, this research highlighted that in-ground flashing lights could be an effective option to implement in the real-world and inform policymakers of the most effective intervention to implement and contribute to the development of evidence-based policies.

Mobile phone distraction and its effects on academic performance of Israeli college students

ABSTRACT This article focuses on evaluating the connection between academic achievements and the receipt of text messages. A total of 106 students with ADHD were randomly divided into groups: the ‘Turned off’ (1) (phone is turned off completely); the ‘Enabled & Mute’ (2) (phone is on and the ‘silent mode’ has been activated); the ‘Enabled and Sound’ (3) (phone is on and sound is on). It was found that students’ achievements are affected by the sound mode of the mobile phone; that turning off the phone significantly increases the number of correct answers; and that students with ADHD tend to be more easily distracted by the sound than their peers. Within this framework, participants in group 1 scored a significantly higher number of correct answers and were more successful in answering complex questions compared to the participants in group 3.

Do mobile phone addiction, boredom proneness, and self-reported mindfulness predict pedestrian beliefs on distracted walking?

Pedestrian distraction is a major causal factor reported in pedestrian fatalities worldwide. Even though many observational studies and laboratory-based research have been conducted to examine the influence of pedestrian distraction on road safety, there is little understanding of the determinants of pedestrian beliefs that influence distracted walking behaviour. The present study examines the associations of pedestrian beliefs related to engagement in mobile phone distraction with psychological factors such as mobile phone addiction, boredom proneness, and mindfulness. Five hundred and fifty-one participants completed a questionnaire about their distraction beliefs (behavioural, normative, and control), mobile phone addiction, boredom proneness, and mindfulness. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) was developed to investigate the influence of mobile phone addiction, boredom proneness, and mindfulness on the three types of beliefs. Mobile phone addiction was significantly associated with behavioural beliefs (factor loading = 0.38) and control beliefs (factor loading = 0.23) but not with normative beliefs. Further, significant associations of boredom proneness were observed with all three types of beliefs: behavioural (factor loading = 0.15), normative (factor loading = 0.13), and control (factor loading = 0.15). Mindfulness showed significant relationships with normative beliefs (factor loading = 0.13) and control beliefs (factor loading = 0.11) but not with behavioural beliefs. This study is the first attempt to investigate the predictors of pedestrian distraction beliefs in the Indian context. The findings can assist the policymakers in understanding the pedestrian psychology behind their distracted walking behaviour.

Driver distraction and in-vehicle interventions: A driving simulator study on visual attention and driving performance

Driving simulator studies are popular means to investigate driving behaviour in a controlled environment and test safety-critical events that would otherwise not be possible in real-world driving conditions. While several factors affect driving performance, driving distraction has been emphasised as a safety-critical issue across the globe. In this context, this study explores the impact of distraction imposed by mobile phone usage, i.e., writing and reading text messages, on driver behaviour. As part of the greater i-DREAMS project, this study uses a car driving simulator experimental design in Germany to investigate driver behaviour under various conditions: (I) monitoring scenario representing normal driving conditions, (II) intervention scenario in which drivers receive fixed timing in-vehicle intervention in case of unsafe driving manoeuvres, and (III) distraction scenario in which drivers receive in-vehicle interventions based on task completion capability, where mobile phone distraction is imposed. Besides, eye-tracking glasses are used to further explore drivers’ attention allocation and eye movement behaviour. This research focuses on driver response to risky traffic events (i.e., potential pedestrian collisions, and tailgating) and the impact of distraction on driving performance, by analysing a set of eye movement and driving performance measures of 58 participants. The results reveal a significant change in drivers’ gaze patterns during the distraction drives with significantly higher gaze points towards the i-DREAMS intervention display (the utilised advanced driver assistance systems in this study). The overall statistical analysis of driving performance measures suggests nearly similar impacts on driver behaviour during distraction drives; a higher deviation of lateral positioning was noted irrespective of the event risk levels and lower longitudinal acceleration rates were observed for pedestrian collisions and non-critical events during distracted driving.

Modelling the response times of mobile phone distracted young drivers: A hybrid approach of decision tree and random parameters duration model

Research has shown the detrimental effects of using mobile phones whilst driving, which are more prominent and concerning for young drivers, who are often less experienced and riskier. As such, this study investigates young drivers’ response times when they encounter a safety–critical event on a suburban road whilst using a mobile phone. To collect high-quality trajectory data, the CARRS-Q advanced driving simulator was used. Thirty-two licenced young drivers were exposed to the sudden braking of the lead vehicle in their lane in three driving conditions: baseline (no phone conversation), handheld, and hands-free. Unlike extant studies, this paper proposes a hybrid modelling framework for the response times of distracted drivers. This framework combines a decision tree model and a correlated grouped random parameters duration model with heterogeneity-in-means. While the decision tree model identifies a priori relationship among main effects, the random parameter model captures unobserved heterogeneity and correlation between random parameters. The modelling results reveal that mobile phone distraction impairs response time behaviour for the majority of drivers. However, some drivers tend to respond earlier whilst being distracted, suggesting that the perceived risk of mobile use might have led to an early response, indicating their risk compensation behaviour. Female drivers tend to respond earlier compared to male drivers, indicating their safer and risk-averse behaviour. Overall, mobile phone distraction appears to deteriorate response time behaviour and poses a significant safety concern to drivers and the overall traffic stream unless mitigated.

Modelling braking behaviour of distracted young drivers in car-following interactions: A grouped random parameters duration model with heterogeneity-in-means

Braking is an important characteristic of driving behaviour that has a direct relationship with rear-end collisions in a car-following task. Braking becomes more crucial when drivers’ cognitive workload increases because of using mobile phones whilst driving. This study, therefore, investigates and compares the effects of using mobile phones whilst driving on braking behaviour. Thirty-two young licenced drivers, evenly split by gender, faced a safety–critical event, that is, leader’s hard braking, in a car-following situation. Each participant drove the CARRS-Q Advanced Driving Simulator and was required to respond to a braking event in the simulated environment in three phone conditions: baseline (no phone conversation), handheld, and hands-free. A random parameters duration modelling approach is employed to (i) model drivers’ braking (or deceleration) times using a parametric survival model, (ii) capture unobserved heterogeneity associated with braking times, and (iii) account for repeated experiment design. The model identifies the handheld phone condition as a random parameter whilst vehicle dynamics variables, hands-free phone condition, and driver-specific variables are found as fixed parameters. The model suggests that most distracted drivers (in the handheld condition) reduce their initial speeds more slowly than undistracted drivers, reflecting their delayed initial braking that may lead to abrupt braking to avoid a rear-end collision. Further, another group of distracted drivers exhibits faster braking (in the handheld condition), recognising the risk associated with mobile phone usage and delayed initial braking. Provisional licence holders are found to be slower in reducing their initial speeds than open licence holders, indicating their risk-taking behaviour because of their less experience and more sensitivity to mobile phone distraction. Overall, mobile phone distraction appears to impair the braking behaviour of young drivers, which poses significant safety concerns for traffic streams.

A systematic review of observational studies investigating the influence of mobile phone distraction on road crossing behaviour of pedestrians

The growing prevalence of technological distractions amongst pedestrians makes it an important road safety concern. Observational studies are considered a reliable method to investigate the influence of mobile phone distraction on pedestrian road crossing behaviour and crash risks. The present study conducts a systematic review of international literature on pedestrian distraction observations by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 792 studies were identified from the literature search on six research databases: Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane library, and Transportation Research International Documentation (TRID). Finally, 39 research articles were assessed using the systematic classification scheme based on the following five research aspects: prevalence of mobile phone distraction, study locations, performance measures, analysis techniques, and additional factors associated with mobile phone use among pedestrians. Over 35% of the studies were conducted in the United States of America (USA) and 69% of the investigations were done in the last five years. Overall, the findings across the studies indicate that mobile phone distraction plays a major role in pedestrian risky road crossing behaviour and violation tendencies. Visual distractions (such as texting) exhibited higher behavioural impairment compared to cognitive distractions (e.g., listening to music, and conversations). Pedestrian characteristics such as gender and age were the key factors examined in 77% and 67% of the observational studies. Finally, important directions for future research are illustrated to aid the researchers working in the area of pedestrian safety.

Mental workload accumulation effect of mobile phone distraction in L2 autopilot mode

As automated vehicles become more common, there is a need for precise measurement and definition of when and in what ways a driver can use a mobile phone in L2 autonomous driving mode, for how long it can be used, the complexity of the call content, and the accumulated mental workload. This study uses a 2 (driving mode) × 2 (call content complexity) × 6 (driving stage) three-factor mixed experimental design to investigate the effect of these factors on the driver's mental workload by measuring the driver's performance on Detection response tasks, pupil diameter, and EEG components in various brain regions in the alpha band. The results showed that drivers' mental workload levels converge between manual and automatic driving modes as the duration of driving increases, regardless of the level of complexity of the mobile phone conversation. This suggests that mobile phone conversations can also disrupt the driver's cognitive resource balance in L2 automatic driving mode, as it increases mental workload while also impairing the normal functioning of brain functions such as cognitive control, problem solving, and judgment, thereby compromising driving safety.

Mobile phone use while driving in Finland

Mobile phones represent one of the most common distractions for drivers and phone use while driving is particularly problematic in Finland. The aim of this research was to explore the Finnish sample of responses from ESRA2 (E-Survey of Road users' Attitudes) with a specific focus on the distracting behaviours related to mobile phone usage while driving. ESRA2 data is derived from online surveys amongst a representative sample of the adult populations in each participating country. In total a sample of 994 responses were collected in Finland for ESRA2, which included 703 responses from participants who held a driver’s licence and reported driving a car in the 30 days prior to the survey.The results provide evidence of the problematic usage of mobile phones while driving in Finland. Mobile phone use was considered across three specific types of usage: (1) handheld phone calls while driving; (2) handsfree phone calls while driving; (3) texting, emailing or social media use while driving. Almost half (49.4 %) of the sample reported using a handheld mobile phone to make a call while driving at least once in the 30 days prior to the survey. A similar percentage (41.4 %) of the sample had used a phone hands-free and 35.6 % had texted, emailed, or used social media.The study highlights how mobile phone usage is a complex and multifaceted issue and that there are a broad range of underlying factors that influence mobile phone usage depending on the way in which people engage with their mobile phone while driving. The findings suggest that a systematic approach to reducing mobile phone distraction is needed that addresses the issue through a combination of legislation, enforcement, and education.

Investigating the role of beliefs in influencing the hand-held and hands-free mobile phone use among pedestrians in India

Mobile phone distraction is a significant contributor to pedestrian injuries. However, mobile phone engagement among pedestrians has been scarcely explored in a developing country like India. The present study utilized the beliefs-based theory of planned behaviour to examine the association between pedestrian beliefs towards distracted walking (behavioural, normative, and control) and their mobile phone use frequencies. Based on a survey of 560 pedestrians (64.6% males), it was found that the major use of mobile phones was for listening to music (30.7%), followed by receiving a call (25%), making a call (18.9%), texting (9.8%), navigation (8.5%) and internet browsing (7.1%). A series of multivariate ANOVAs and logistic regression models were developed to investigate the relationships between the beliefs and frequencies of mobile phone use in hands-free and hand-held conditions. Significant multivariate differences were found for behavioural and normative beliefs in hands-free conditions and all three types of beliefs in hand-held conditions. The frequency of mobile phone use was significantly predicted by normative beliefs (p < 0.001) in the hands-free condition, and by behavioural (p = 0.041) and normative beliefs (p = 0.004) in the hand-held condition. The findings may assist the road safety countermeasures in addressing the issue of pedestrian distraction.

Pedestrian distraction: Mobile phone use and its associations with other risky crossing behaviours and conflict situations

Pedestrian distraction related to mobile phone use has become an emerging road safety issue. While much research has investigated the effects of pedestrian distraction on risky crossing behaviours, little is understood about potential risk compensation behaviours and the relationships between pedestrian distraction and safety outcomes, such as near-misses or involvement in a conflict situation. This paper aims to explore pedestrian distraction and its associations with other risky crossing behaviours and safety outcomes, using field observation data in Hanoi, Vietnam. Associations between pedestrian distraction and risky behaviours or conflict situations were identified using log-binomial and logistic regression. Results show that around 14.4% of pedestrians were distracted while crossing. Interestingly, while distracted pedestrians were more likely not to observe traffic while crossing, they were less likely to violate traffic signals or cross outside the marked crosswalks. These findings suggest distracted pedestrians may have risk compensation behaviours. Results also indicated a relatively small yet significant effect of mobile phone distraction on conflict situations.

Taking the right course: The possibilities and challenges of offering alternatives to prosecution for drivers detected using mobile phones while driving

There is a considerable body of literature that outlines the dangers of mobile phone use by drivers. However, there is very little research that explores the role and effectiveness of attempts to tackle this specific road user problem. Generally, normative motives are more likely to generate compliance with traffic law, and are more likely to be developed through approaches which focus on engagement and education. There would seem to be little potential for them to be developed through the use of penalty points and fines, which rely on more instrumental logic. Nonetheless, the decision was made in the UK in recent years to cease offering ‘courses’ (inputs to detected phone-using drivers offered as an alternative to prosecution) for mobile phone offences. This decision was made despite a lack of evidence one way or another about their effectiveness in tackling both handheld mobile phone use and handsfree mobile phone distraction – a form of distraction not explicitly covered in law. This research project aimed to explore driver education as an alternative to prosecution for mobile phone use while driving offences, focusing on perceptions and experiences of one particular educational intervention. This paper draws on 46 semi-structured interviews with those involved in delivering a specific intervention aimed at reducing handheld mobile phone use by drivers that was previously offered as an alternative to prosecution in the UK; the police officers identifying offenders for referral to such courses, those delivering the intervention, drivers attending the course as an alternative to prosecution and members of the public attending the course as general education. Four key themes, with underpinning subthemes, emerged; 1) Police officer discretion and control over entry into the criminal justice system 2) Police-public interactions, 3) Course experiences, and 4) Post-course considerations.Firstly, police officer discretion is an important determinant of criminal justice system outcome, based on subjective rather than legal decisions about whether or not to report drivers for an offence. Secondly, police officers negotiate encounters with road users using the avoidance of prosecution as a way of diffusing difficult conversations, sometimes by offering a course as a preferable alternative to prosecution, sometimes by encouraging handsfree phone use. Thirdly, course attendance provides an opportunity to develop both normative alignment through increased understanding of police work, and to appreciate a range of instrumental consequences associated with mobile phone use. Both self-reportedly impacted upon mobile phone use while driving. Finally, post-course considerations emphasised a focus on who should be offered courses as an alternative to prosecution, focusing upon desires for both punitive and rehabilitative responses to mobile phone using drivers.

Distracted Driving Among Patients with Trauma Attending Fracture Clinics in Canada: The Canadian Multicenter DRIVSAFE Study.

Globally, every 25 seconds, a person dies in a motor vehicle crash (MVC) and 58 people get injured. Adding to the rising distracted-driving rates is the rapid growth of the number of cars in circulation globally. This study examined the proportion of distracted drivers among patients attending orthopaedic fracture clinics, as well as associated factors. In this large, multicenter, cross-sectional study, we recruited 1,378 patients across 4 Canadian fracture clinics. Eligible patients completed an anonymous questionnaire about distracted driving. We calculated the percentages of specific distractions. Using questionnaire responses and published crash risk odds ratios (ORs), patients were grouped as distraction-prone and distraction-averse. Regression analyses to determine the association of demographic characteristics with distracting behaviors and the odds of being in a distraction-related crash were performed. In total, 1,358 patients (99.7%) self-reported distracted driving. Prevalent distractions included talking to passengers (98.7%), distractions outside the vehicle (95.5%), listening to the radio (97.6%), adjusting the radio (93.8%), and daydreaming (61.2%). Of the 1,354 patients who acknowledged mobile phone distractions, 889 (65.7%) accepted phone calls and continued driving, 675 (49.8%) read electronic messages, and 475 (35.1%) sent electronic messages. Younger age (OR, 0.94 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.91 to 0.97]; p < 0.001) and household incomes of $80,000 to <$100,000 (OR, 1.92 [95% CI, 1.17 to 3.14]; p = 0.01) and ≥$100,000 (OR, 2.48 [95% CI, 1.57 to 3.91]; p < 0.001) were associated with being in the distraction-prone group. Distraction-prone patients were twice as likely to be in a distraction-related MVC (OR, 1.98 [95% CI, 1.43 to 2.74]; p < 0.001). Of 113 drivers who sustained injuries from MVCs, 20 (17.7%) acknowledged being distracted. Of 729 patients who reported being the driver in a previous MVC in their lifetime, 226 (31.0%) confirmed being distracted. This survey-based study showed that driving distractions were near universally acknowledged. The pervasiveness of distractions held true even when only the more dangerous distractions were considered. One in 6 patients in MVCs reported being distracted in their current crash, and 1 in 3 patients disclosed being distracted in an MVC during their lifetime.

A Systematic Review of Observational Studies Investigating the Influence of Mobile Phone Distraction on Road Crossing Behaviour of Pedestrians

A Systematic Review of Observational Studies Investigating the Influence of Mobile Phone Distraction on Road Crossing Behaviour of Pedestrians

Effects of using mobile phones while cycling: A study from the perspectives of manipulation and visual strategies

Bicycles have become one of the major modes of urban public travel. Moreover, the high number of bicycle accidents has created challenges for road traffic safety. In addition, a relationship exists between single-handed use of handlebars and the use of mobile phones while cycling, which increases the risk of cycling. The current study considers not only the impact of mobile phone use while cycling on the safety of cyclists but also the impact of the mental load of a distracting task on cycling safety. Thirty-two college students were recruited to participate in a cycling experiment with distractions that was carried out on both campus and off-campus roads. A paired t-test was used to analyze cyclists' performance under different distraction states. The results show that when performing distracting tasks, the speed of cycling is significantly reduced, the acceleration and rate of change in the deflection angle are significantly increased, and the saccade frequency is significantly reduced. In addition, texting while cycling has a greater negative impact on cycling performance than does calling or listening to music. This study reveals the harm of mobile phone use while cycling by analyzing the effects and characteristics of manipulation performance and visual strategy. The study results can contribute to improving cyclist awareness regarding distraction safety and reducing the occurrence of mobile phone distraction issues. Furthermore, this approach provides a theoretical research basis for scientific and effective intervention and improvement measures in the future.

Distracted Driving Among Trauma Patients Attending Fracture Clinics in Canada:The Canadian Multi-Centre Drivsafe Study

Background: Globally, every 25 seconds, a person dies in a road traffic incident and 58 people get injured. Unfortunately, distracted driving rates are rising. Compounding this is the growth of the number of cars in global circulation, estimated at 1.32 billion. This study examined the prevalence of distracted driving among orthopaedic fracture clinic patients, as well as associated factors. Method: In this large, multi-centre cross-sectional study, we recruited 1378 patients across four Canadian fracture clinics. Eligible patients completed an anonymous questionnaire about distracted driving. We calculated the prevalence of distracted driving and performed regression analyses to determine the association of demographics and distracting behaviours on crash risk. Findings: In total, 1358 (99.8%) patients self-reported distracted driving. Prevalent distractions included talking to passengers (98.7%), outer-vehicle distractions (95.5%), listening/adjusting radio (97.6%/93.8%), and daydreaming (61.2%). Of 1354 patients who acknowledged mobile phone distractions, 889 accepted phone calls and continued driving (65.6%), 675 (49.8%) read and 475 (35.1%) sent electronic messages. Of 113 drivers who sustained their injuries in a motor vehicle crash (MVC), 20 (17.7%) acknowledged being distracted. Out of 729 patients who reported being the driver in a previous MVC in their lifetime, 226 (31.1%) confirmed being distracted at the time. Interpretation: Driving distractions during a lifetime were near universally acknowledged. In MVCs, one in six patients reported being distracted in their current crash, and one in three patients disclosed being distracted in an MVC during their lifetime. Funding Information: Canadian Orthopaedic Research Legacy Grant, Physicians' Services Incorporated Foundation, Regional Medical Associates. Declaration of Interests: None. Ethics Approval Statement: The methods centre received approval from the McMaster/Hamilton Health Sciences research ethics board (reference REB #15-334), and each local research ethics board.