Psychosocial factors influencing mobile phone use while driving

This study aims to improve our understanding of why drivers use their mobile phones while driving and to inform campaigns designed to address this behaviour. The theory of planned behaviour was used to investigate factors relating to mobile phone use while driving. In addition, the research explored the effects of age, gender, driving purpose, perceived risk of apprehension, perceived risk of crashing, and addictive tendencies towards mobile phone use. Differences in the underlying beliefs held by participants with strong and weak intentions to use a mobile phone while driving were also assessed. Participants' attitudes towards mobile phone use while driving were the only consistent predictors of the intention to engage in this behaviour in the future. People with addictive tendencies towards mobile phone use were more likely to use their mobile phone while driving. Drivers were more likely to use their phone when waiting at traffic lights than when driving at 100 km/h. Results of the study improve our understanding of why drivers use their mobile phones while driving by highlighting factors which influence drivers' decisions to engage in this behaviour. The findings from this study can inform campaigns designed to reduce this unsafe driving practice. (a)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9781921165665
• Corporate Authors:

  AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT SAFETY BUREAU (ATSB)

  PO BOX 967
  CIVIC SQUARE,   Australia  2601
• Authors:
  • WALSH, S P
  • White, K M
  • WATSON, B
  • HYDE, M K
• Publication Date: 2007-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 114P
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: RSRG 2007-06

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attention; Attitudes; Behavior; Driver performance; Drivers; Driving; Mobile telephones; Motor skills; Properties of materials; Risk taking; Safety; Telephone
• Uncontrolled Terms: Characteristics
• ITRD Terms: 2238: Attention; 2267: Attitude (psychol); 9001: Behaviour; 1772: Driver; 5925: Properties; 2259: Risk taking; 1665: Safety; 2205: Skill (road user); 390: Telephone
• Subject Areas: Materials; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01099940
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: TRL
• ISBN: 9781921165665
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: May 27 2008 9:04AM