Use Of Hand-held Mobile Phones Research Articles

Prevalence and predictors of driver distractions in Cyprus: An observational study

ObjectiveDriver distractions are a significant contributor to road accidents and fatalities worldwide. The present research investigated the prevalence of observable driver distractions on both sides of Nicosia, as well as exploring the effect of drivers’ characteristics and time-related variables on their prevalence. MethodsRoadside observations were conducted at eight randomly selected locations in the city of Nicosia, Cyprus. Four of these sites were located in the area of Nicosia controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, and the other four were in the area that is referred to as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) by its administration. ResultsA total of 16,070 drivers were observed, with 8,948 being in the Republic of Cyprus (South) and 7,122 in the Turkish-controlled section of Nicosia (North). A slightly higher proportion of drivers were observed driving distracted in the South (28.0%) than was found in the northern part of the city (25.7%). The most commonly observed secondary tasks in the South were using headphones (9.2%), talking to a passenger (8.1%) and using a mobile 0.4%, 3.7% talking and 2.7% texting). In contrast, the most commonly observed secondary tasks in the North were talking to passengers (10.2%), wearing headphones (8.4%) and using a mobile 0.6% for talking and 2.5% for texting). Gender-related differences were found for a number of different distractions (i.e., talking to passengers, drinking, and handheld mobile phone conversations), and age emerged as a significant predictor for most secondary tasks, including talking to passengers, smoking, hands-free mobile phone use, handheld mobile phone use, texting/keying numbers, drinking and engagement in any type of distraction (all distractions combined). The overall pattern for age was that middle-aged and older drivers were less likely to be distracted than younger drivers. ConclusionsA relatively high proportion of drivers on both sides of Nicosia were engaged in a secondary task while driving. These findings clearly indicate that younger drivers are more likely to drive distracted, which probably contributes to their higher crash rates.

Location, location, location! An application of situational action theory to phone use while driving in different environments

Situational action theory (SAT) is a comprehensive theory that explains offending behaviour from the context of the interaction between interpersonal factors, such as morals, self-control, and habits, with situational factors, such as environmental risk and social conditions. Illegal hand-held mobile phone use while driving (MPUWD), a prevalent and risky road behaviour, has yet to be examined under the SAT framework. Therefore, by utilising SAT, this exploratory study sought to investigate the interpersonal and situational factors preceding hand-held MPUWD in three distinct road environments (highways, built-up areas and stopped-at-traffic lights). To achieve this, Queensland drivers aged over 18 who owned a mobile phone (N = 821, Mage = 41.7 years, SD = 20.9 years) were invited to complete an online survey. Repeated measures ANOVAs demonstrated significant mean differences for participants’ perceived risks associated with MPUWD and subsequent likelihood of offending across the three environments, with traffic lights being more conducive to MPUWD behaviours. Three hierarchical multiple linear regressions also revealed that age, attitude, risk of judgement, and self-control were significant predictors of MPUWD across all environments, while the results for gender, risk of injury and risk of being apprehended varied across the different driving contexts. Together, these factors explained 38.5–39.6 % of the variance in the perceived likelihood of illegally engaging in MPUWD. Overall, the findings indicated that the application of SAT has predictive utility in determining MPUWD engagement and can provide a more comprehensive framework for approaching and intervening in MPUWD behaviour.

PERFORMANCES AND SELF-DECLARED OPINIONS ON HANDHELD MOBILE PHONE USE (DISTRACTION IN TRAFFIC) IN POLAND

This article presents the Motor Transport Institute’s research to set out road safety indicators of behaviors and opinions on one of the increasingly important road traffic problems. Two types of studies on the unsafe use of mobile phones and others on board devices (distraction) by road users in Poland between 2014 and 2023 are presented. Safety Performance Indicators (SPI) on handheld mobile phone use from roadside observations and declared opinions on talking, reading messages, checking social media/news, and listening to headphones while driving, cycling, and walking are presented. Overall, 306,240 passenger car drivers observed on all road types all week long in Poland showed a dropping trend (1.8%) between before the study in 2014 SPI 4.1% distracted drivers to SPI 2.3% after the study in 2022. More drivers used mobile phones on single carriageways both in built-up and outside built-up areas. On motorways outside built-up areas, where vehicles are speeding, drivers of passenger cars rarely talk on their handheld mobiles. Results from the first European Union (EU) Baseline project to collect road indicators produced a Key Performance Indicator of 3.8% distracted passenger car (all types of roads, all weekdays and weekend) from 44,011 observed in Poland in 2021. Results from the EU project E-Survey on Road Users’ Attitude, third edition (ESRA3), showed declared opinions of mobile use while driving, cycling, and walking down the street in Poland in 2023 compared to 2018 (ESRA2). A positive trend is seen among car drivers who declared lower use of handheld mobile phones than in 2018 (a drop of 11.2%). The survey showed Polish cyclist used more often headphones to listen to music, checked news and messages than cyclists in Europe in 2023. More by 10.1% pedestrians in Europe than in Poland declared checking social media/news, reading messages/emailing while walking down the street in 2023. This lower rate in Poland can be explained by pedestrian’s legal prohibition of mobile phone use while crossing the street since 2021. There is strong support for policy measures forbidding all drivers of motorized vehicles to use handheld mobile phone use while driving in all of Europe. Enforcement measures are twice as strong in Europe than in Poland. As the number of accidents and fatalities on distraction is unknown, calculating SPI during roadside observations and questionnaire surveys gives in-depth knowledge of the problem. The authors of the paper represent the Motor Transport Institute’s (MTI’s) research institution, which systematically analyzes trends in road safety in Poland during its own, national, and international projects.

Community narratives on Facebook regarding mobile phone use while driving and road policing technologies

Objective: Mobile phone use while driving is a major cause of distraction and area for concern. Numerous factors have been shown to be associated with engagement in mobile phone use while driving, including peer influences and social media content encouraging the behavior. Phone detection cameras are being increasingly utilized to enforce the hand-held mobile phone use while driving ban in Australia, yet this has been accompanied by an emergence of camera location pages on social media platforms such as Facebook. Research is clearly needed to explore the nature and extent of this online content, since such information can be used to counteract any negative effects on enforcement. Methods: Accordingly, this exploratory study analyzed content on Facebook pertaining to mobile phone use while driving, enforcement of the behavior and legal penalties associated with the behavior. Results: A total of 167 public Facebook posts shared within Australia in January to October 2021 were examined. Overall, it was found that: (a) a large proportion (74%) of posts focused on the location of mobile phone cameras, (b) whilst most discussions centered around discouraging mobile phone use while driving, a large number also aimed to facilitate avoiding detection for the behavior. Finally, very few posts/comments acknowledged the risks associated with the behavior, including the risk of being caught. Conclusions: This research provides preliminary evidence that social media platforms appear to provide an avenue to reduce the likelihood of apprehension. Avenues for future research are discussed.

Investigating the Impact of Mounted Mobile Phones on Driving Behavior

Because the use of handheld mobile phones while driving is considered dangerous behavior, mounted mobile phones have emerged as an alternative. This study compared use of mounted with handheld mobile phones while driving and investigated the impact of mounted mobile phones on driving behavior. The behavior of receiving and making calls, and reading/sending text messages using mobile phones mounted on windshields, dashboards, vents, and cupholders while driving was observed. It was found that mounted mobile phones have less distraction potential than handheld mobile phones; however, they can distract the driver to the same degree, depending on the mounting position. In conclusion, a key factor that determines the potential distraction level of a mounted mobile phone while driving is the mounting position. The hands-free law should consider the mounting position of the mobile phone, rather than focus exclusively on manual interaction.

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.

A double-edged sword? Identifying the influence of peers, mass and social media on engagement in mobile phone use while driving

While the ever-expanding proliferation of social media is well documented, the relationship such exposure has upon road rule compliance remains completely unknown. Further, it is not clear as to whether social media independently affects such behaviour, when accounting for the influence of mass media and peers. As a result, this study examined the relative influence of exposure to content that encourages phone use while driving via these three mediums in order to identify the most salient stimuli. A total of 509 participants (aged 17–88 years, M = 33, SD = 17) from the state of Queensland, Australia, were included in this study. Participants completed an online survey, which examined self-reported levels of exposure to material encouraging hand-held mobile phone use while driving from three sources: mass media (e.g., television, movies and gaming), social media, and peer behaviour (descriptive norms). Results indicated that participants on average engaged in illegal mobile phone use while driving 16% of the time they drive. Exposure to material encouraging phone use while driving was significantly higher from mass media (M = 32% of the time) and via peers (M = 30%) compared to social media (M = 27%). However, only social media and peer behaviour (the frequency with which participants believed that their peers engage in the behaviour) significantly predicted engagement in self-reported illegal mobile phone use, such that increasing levels of exposure were associated with more frequent use while driving. These findings: (a) support an emerging body of evidence indicating that both peer behaviours and social media messages are highly salient and influential and (b) are the first to suggest that such exposure might directly affect road safety. Nonetheless, further research is warranted to elucidate the nature and direction of the relationship between social media and driving behaviour, and the mechanisms through which such messages influence behaviour. Such lines of enquiry would have important implications for road safety (e.g., by informing the development of countermeasures/interventions delivered via social media).

Young drivers’ takeover time in a conditional automated vehicle: The effects of hand-held mobile phone use and future intentions to use automated vehicles

This research aimed to assess the extent to which using a hand-held mobile phone affected young drivers’ (aged 17–25 years) takeback control of a simulated conditional automated vehicle (AV), relative to an auditory working memory n-back task and monitoring the road environment (control condition). In addition to takeback control, this study also applied the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to assess if there were any differences in future intentions to use AVs after participants had experienced the automated functions of the vehicle compared to pre-drive (baseline). Trust was also measured pre-and post-drive. These additional constructs were included to further assess if the predictors of intentions to use AVs changed after participants had experienced a simulator drive which involve non-driving related tasks (NDRT). Thirty-three young Australian drivers (Mage = 20.97 years, 17 females) took part in the one-hour within groups study which comprised pre-and post-drive self-report questionnaires and operating the CARRS-Q advanced driving simulator. In contrast to previous research on NDRT and takeback control (see Zhang et al., 2019), the results revealed that there were no significant differences in takeback control of the vehicle when drivers were using their hand-held mobile phone compared to completing the working memory n-back task or monitoring the road environment. However, a hierarchical regression revealed that participants reported significantly higher ratings that important others would approve of them using a conditional AV and greater control over whether or not they would intend to use an AV in the future post-drive compared to pre-drive, providing partial support for hypothesis 2. Overall, these findings suggest that using a hand-held mobile phone does not negatively influence young drivers’ takeback control of an AV. Further, the study highlights the influence that important others may have in determining whether young drivers intend to use AVs in the future.

Prevalence of mobile phone use among drivers: direct observation in Udine (Northern Italy)

to measure the prevalence of hand-held mobile phone use among drivers in Udine, Italy. Such behaviour is prohibited by law. direct roadside observation of car drivers. groups of nursing students on the roadside observed car drivers either waiting at red traffic lights or driving in selected major urban streets of the city of Udine and of two smaller neighboring towns, in one-hour time slots in different days in November and December 2018, for a total of 24 hours of observation. prevalence of use of handheld mobile phone either for calling or for activities implying visuo-manual interaction (texting or social media browsing), both among drivers waiting at red traffic lights and among those driving along the streets. overall, 8,240 observations of vehicles were carried out. The prevalence of mobile phone use was 9.9% among drivers waiting at red traffic lights and 6.5% among those moving along the streets in Udine; the prevalence was higher in the smaller neighboring towns. Among 6,116 drivers, the type of use has also been recorded: prevalence of texting was 7.2% at traffic lights and 5.0% in moving vehicles; prevalence of phone calls was 3.3% and 3.6%, respectively. Texting represented 68.4% of mobile phone use among drivers waiting at traffic lights and 57.8% among moving drivers. Behaviors of female and male drivers were similar. the use of mobile phones among drivers is very common in Udine, particularly for activities involving both the hands and the eyes. Since the increased risk of road accidents caused by this type of distraction from driving activities is well known, interventions discouraging the use of mobile phones among drivers are needed.

Do beliefs differ between frequent and infrequent hand-held and hands-free phone users while driving? A Polish study

AimAlthough it is currently legal in Poland to use a hands-free mobile phone while driving, research suggests that it is not significantly safer than using a hand-held mobile phone. The present study used the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to examine the relationships that three types of beliefs (behavioural, normative and control beliefs) have with the frequency of drivers’ hands-free and hand-held mobile phone use.Subjects and methodsThe sample comprised 298 Polish drivers (35% females) aged between 18 and 40 years old (mean age: 21.05 years, standard deviation = 2.38).ResultsTwo multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs) were conducted to investigate the differences between the two groups (hand-held and hands-free) of frequent and infrequent mobile phone users, with regard to their behavioural, normative and control beliefs. Significant differences were found in all of the control beliefs for both hand-held and hands-free mobile phone users. Similar normative differences were identified for both hands-free and hand-held mobile phone use, but while three behavioural beliefs differed significantly for hands-free use, no behavioural beliefs were significant for hand-held mobile phone use. Finally, composite measures of the behavioural and control beliefs were predictive of being a frequent hand-held mobile phone user, but none of the three beliefs were predictive of being a frequent hands-free user.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate potential directions for behavioural change aimed at reducing or preventing the use of mobile phones while driving.

Mobile phone involvement, beliefs, and texting while driving in Ukraine

There is extensive evidence that using a mobile phone whilst driving is one of the biggest contributors to driver distraction, which in turn increases the risk of motor vehicle collisions. Whilst most of the developed countries have been trying to deter this behaviour through legislation, enforcement and educational campaigns, in Ukraine, where the road fatality rate is the highest in Europe, this issue has only recently become publicised. The present study examined psychological factors that are associated with hand-held mobile phone use while driving among a sample of Ukrainian drivers, in particular writing or reading a text message while driving. This included drivers’ behavioural, normative, and control beliefs relating to mobile phone use while driving, as well as the degree to which using a mobile phone is integral to one’s everyday life (measured using the Mobile Phone Involvement Questionnaire; MPIQ). Almost one quarter to one third of the sample reported using their phone on a daily basis to write (22.2%) or read (38.2%) text messages while driving. A binary logistic regression showed that gender, higher MPIQ scores, perceived approval from family members, lower perceived likelihood of receiving traffic fines and less demanding traffic conditions were all significantly associated with mobile phone use while driving. These results suggest that dependence upon a mobile phone in everyday life may be an important factor to consider when developing interventions to reduce hand-held mobile phone use while driving.

Self-reported handheld device use while driving

In spite of research and awareness of the hazards associated with handheld mobile device use while driving, many motorists continue to engage in this risky behavior. The mobile device use while driving has a detrimental effect on the operation of the vehicle. It contributes significantly to distraction which is a leading cause of accidents. Especially, the use of text messaging and the dialing of a 10-digit number while driving can be attributable to crash risks. Phone use bans have a positive role in reducing mobile phone use for texting while operating vehicles. There are limited studies on whether drivers admit to the use of handheld devices while driving. The aim of this study was to identify the experiences, practices, and attitudes of handheld device use while driving. A total of 337 respondents nationwide replied to the survey on the attitudes and self-reported behaviors of handheld device use while driving. In the survey, the characteristics of handheld device users, use of handheld devices, and the differences in self-reported behaviors across states with and without device use restrictions were compared. The perceptions and experiences of device users are also examined. Based on the background of device users and their attitudes, a multivariate logistic regression is used to identify the characteristics of those who use handheld devices while driving. The model is relevant to this research because it allows the consideration and comparison of many variables to identify the attitudes of people towards distracted driving. The affirmative self-reporting of 59 percent of the respondents is a surprising result given that there are state bans on texting and the use of handheld mobile phones while driving. Older drivers are least likely to engage in these behaviors, compared to younger drivers and adult drivers. Based on the findings, targeted educational and enforcement campaigns to reduce device use during driving are suggested. Additional promising areas for further inquiry and research are also proposed.

What’s the law got to do with it? Legislation regarding in-vehicle technology use and its impact on driver distraction

Legislation in the road transport domain aims to control safety on the roads. Despite this, a critical issue affecting road safety is that of driver distraction. Although poorly defined, distraction is a significant road safety issue which, in part, is caused by the prevalence of technology within vehicles. Legislation surrounding the use of in-vehicle technologies are explored in this paper from a socio-technical system perspective. This reveals the wider context of the road transport system operating under the current laws using an Accimap analysis. A distinction in the law between the use of hand-held mobile phones, a device that is typically banned for use by drivers worldwide, and the use of other technological devices that are covered by more general laws against ‘careless’ and/or ‘dangerous’ driving was found. Historically, individual drivers’ have been blamed for distraction, whereas the systems approach shows how current legislation may have created the conditions necessary for driver distraction.

Development of Remote Control System for Residential AC Power Supply Based on GSM Technology

The present study deals with the development of remote control system based on the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) technology for switching the low voltage AC power supply system at residential consumer. Function of this system is to disconnect and reconnect the electricity supply to consumers. The introduction of the GSM technology and particularly the use of hand-held mobile phones has brought the innovative distance communication to remote locations. This utilization of this technology for the remote control of systems and appliances will make life easier, safe and quick from anywhere. GSM module was used for receiving short message service (SMS) from user’s mobile phone that automatically enable the controller to take any further action such as to switch on and off the consumer load at the incoming power supply. The system was integrated with microcontroller and GSM network interface using assembly language. AVR Studio 4 software was utilized to accomplish the integration. The system is activated when user sends the SMS to GSM controller circuit at electric meter consumption panel board. Upon receiving the SMS command, the microcontroller unit then automatically controls the incoming power supply by switching on or off the device according to the user command. In other words, the developed system reads message from the mobile phone and responds to control the devices according to the received message. The system can also give feedback to the user to inform the status of switching operation if such command is received.

A Roadside Study of Observable Driver Distractions

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of observable distractions while driving and the effect of drivers’ characteristics and time-related variables on their prevalence.Methods: Using roadside observation, 2 independent observers collected data at 4 randomly selected locations in St. Albans, UK.Results: Of the 10,984 drivers observed, 16.8% were engaged in a secondary task, with talking to passengers being the most common distraction (8.8%), followed by smoking (1.9%) and talking on a hands-free mobile phone (1.7%). An additional 1.0% were observed talking on a handheld phone, and the rest of the distractions (e.g., texting, drinking) were recorded in less than 1% of the drivers observed. Gender-related differences were found for a number of different distractions (i.e., talking to passengers, drinking, and handheld mobile phone conversations), but age emerged as a significant predictor for most secondary tasks, including talking to passengers, smoking, hands-free mobile phone use, handheld mobile phone use, texting/keying numbers, drinking, and engagement in any type of distraction (all distractions combined). The overall pattern for age was that middle-aged and older drivers were less likely to be distracted than younger drivers.Conclusions: This work provides further evidence of the relatively high rate of distracted driving in the UK. The findings clearly indicate that younger drivers are more likely to drive distracted, which probably contributes to their higher crash rates.

What’s driving illegal mobile phone use? Psychosocial influences on drivers’ intentions to use hand-held mobile phones

Australian drivers’ use of hand-held mobile phones is increasing in prevalence, despite the illegal nature of this behaviour. Research investigating the psychosocial influences on drivers’ intentions to use hand-held mobile phones is limited. The present research utilised the theory of planned behaviour, extended with descriptive norm, to investigate the psychosocial influences on drivers’ intentions to use a hand-held mobile phone. The behaviours associated with mobile phone use were categorised into initiating and responding behaviour. Answering calls and reading text messages were categorised as responding behaviour, on the basis that these two behaviours have been associated with social pressure to respond. Making calls and sending text messages were categorised as initiating behaviour. A sample of 181 drivers from the general population, aged 18–66years, completed an online survey. The survey assessed attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, descriptive norm, past behaviour and intention, in relation to initiating and responding behaviour. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control and descriptive norm were all significant predictors of drivers’ intentions to engage in both initiating and responding behaviour. However, drivers reported significantly greater intentions to engage in responding behaviour and reported engaging in responding behaviour more frequently than initiating behaviour, indicating that social pressure to respond may play an important role in drivers’ illegal use of hand-held mobile phones.

Exposure to hand-held mobile phone use while driving among Iranian passenger car drivers: an observational study

The use of hand-held mobile phones/cellular phones while driving is a known risk factor for road traffic accidents.1 In Iran, the use of mobile phones has increased dramatically in recent years. However, little research has been done to determine the prevalence of mobile phone use while driving in Iran. We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study to document patterns of mobile phone use among drivers of passenger vehicles, including cars, mini-vans, and utility vehicles in the streets of Kerman, a city in the south-east of Iran, in the fall of 2009. Direct observational study is a less biased method of assessing exposure to cellular phone use among passenger car drivers in comparison to self-report data and police accident reports.2 The results showed that of the approximately 30,000 drivers who were observed on the weekdays during daytime hours and on different streets, an average of 3.6% were using their hand-held mobile phones while driving. There was no statistically significant difference between men and women in mobile phone use during driving. However, younger (estimated age <30 years) and middle aged drivers (estimated age 30-50 years) used mobile phones more frequently than the older adults and the elderly. Also, the use of mobile phones were more frequent on streets in the central part of town, and the ring road in comparison to suburban streets, and were more frequently used in the morning than in the afternoon. To our knowledge, this is the first study on this topic that has been conducted in Iran or other countries in the region. However, similar observational findings from Melbourne and Perth in Australia show that between 1.5 to 2% of motor vehicle drivers used a mobile phone while driving.3,4,5 Other similar observational studies from Michigan6 and Minnesota2 have reported that 5.8% and 4.2%-4.7% of motor vehicle drivers, respectively, used hand-held cellular phones while driving. Additional national level studies are needed to better understand the rate of exposure to hand held cellular phones among drivers of passenger cars in Iran. Our findings show that conversing on a hand-held cellular phone among drivers in Kerman is nearly as popular as it is among their counterparts in Western countries. A culturally tailored tool is needed to assess knowledge and attitudes of Iranian passenger car drivers in respect to the safety concerns of using cellular phones behind the wheel. Results of such studies can offer valuable educational and motivational suggestions for improving prevention and the reduction of cellular phone use among drivers of passenger cars in Iran.

An examination of the factors that influence drivers’ willingness to use hand-held mobile phones

► The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) components significantly accounted for drivers’ willingness to use a mobile phone above and beyond the demographic variables. ► Generally, neuroticism and extroversion did not significantly predict drivers’ willingness above and beyond the TPB and demographic variables. ► Overall, the findings broaden our understanding of the internal and external factors influencing drivers’ willingness to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving despite the illegality of this behaviour. Hand-held mobile phone use while driving is illegal throughout Australia yet many drivers persist with this behaviour. This study aims to understand the internal, driver-related and external, situational-related factors influencing drivers’ willingness to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving. Sampling 160 university students, this study utilised the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to examine a range of belief-based constructs. Additionally, drivers’ personality traits of neuroticism and extroversion were measured with the Neuroticism Extroversion Openness-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). In relation to the external, situational-related factors, four different driving-related scenarios, which were intended to evoke differing levels of drivers’ reported stress, were devised for the study and manipulated drivers’ time urgency (low versus high) and passenger presence (alone versus with friends). In these scenarios, drivers’ willingness to use a mobile phone in general was measured. Hierarchical regression analyses across the four different driving scenarios found that, overall, the TPB components significantly accounted for drivers’ willingness to use a mobile phone above and beyond the demographic variables. Subjective norms, however, was only a significant predictor of drivers’ willingness in situations where the drivers were driving alone. Generally, neuroticism and extroversion did not significantly predict drivers’ willingness above and beyond the TPB and demographic variables. Overall, the findings broaden our understanding of the internal and external factors influencing drivers’ willingness to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving despite the illegality of this behaviour. The findings may have important practical implications in terms of better informing road safety campaigns targeting drivers’ mobile phone use which, in turn, may contribute to a reduction in the extent that mobile phone use contributes to road crashes.

Mobile phone use while driving: An investigation of the beliefs influencing drivers’ hands-free and hand-held mobile phone use

This study explored the psychological influences of hands-free and hand-held mobile phone use while driving. Participants were 796 Australian drivers aged 17-76 years who owned mobile phones. A cross-sectional survey assessed frequency of calling and text messaging while driving (overall, hands-free, hand-held) as well as drivers' behavioural, normative, and control beliefs relating to mobile phone use while driving. Irrespective of handset type, 43% of drivers reported answering calls while driving on a daily basis, followed by making calls (36%), reading text messages (27%), and sending text messages (18%). In total, 63.9% of drivers did not own hands-free kits and, of the drivers that owned hand-free kits, 32% did not use it most or all of the time. Significant differences were found in the behavioural, normative, and control beliefs of frequent and infrequent users of both types of handset while driving. As expected, frequent users reported more advantages of, more approval from others for, and fewer barriers that would prevent them from, using either a hands-free or a hand-held mobile phone while driving than infrequent users. Campaigns to reduce mobile phone use while driving should attempt to minimise the perceived benefits of the behaviour and highlight the risks of this unsafe driving practice.

Young driving learners’ intention to use a handheld or hands-free mobile phone when driving

This paper presents a survey investigating young driving learners’ intention to use a handheld or hands-free mobile phone when driving. A sample of 164 young driving learners completed a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), which measured people’s intentions to use mobile phone while driving in handheld condition or hands-free condition, along with their attitudes towards the behavior, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control. The regression analysis models revealed that the TPB was able to explain 43% and 48% variance in hands-free mobile phone use intention and handheld mobile phone use intention, respectively, with perceived behavioral control emerging as the strongest predictor. In addition, TPB components, usage frequency and perceived risk were more dependent on gender than age. These results have several theoretical and practical implications. In particular, interventions should emphasize on the risk of hands-free mobile phone use when driving for young drivers, especially for young male drivers.