Perceived risk of phoning while driving: A case study from Jordan

The use of mobile phones while driving is banned in most countries since it impairs driving performance and is believed to increase crash risk. The aim of this research is to identify the prevalence of phoning while driving in Jordan and to examine the association between drivers’ perception of risk and potential predicting variables. A sample of 423 drivers was surveyed to gather information on their mobile phone use while driving as well as their risk perception. Data collection took place anonymously at diverse locations through a self-report questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed to highlight the association between risk levels and drivers’ demographics and exposure characteristics. An alarming rate of 93.1% of drivers, mostly young male college students, engaged in this unsafe behavior despite being aware of the associated risk and legislative laws. Findings suggested gender, employment status, age, education level, driving experience, and daily traveled distance were associated with mobile phone use while driving. Recommendations to enhance traffic safety were proposed and further research directions were highlighted.

[1]  Grey Giddins,et al.  Statistics , 2016, The Journal of hand surgery, European volume.

[2]  Erik Nelson,et al.  The effects of perception of risk and importance of answering and initiating a cellular phone call while driving. , 2009, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[3]  M. Woodward,et al.  Novice drivers' risky driving behavior, risk perception, and crash risk: findings from the DRIVE study. , 2009, American journal of public health.

[4]  Feng Guo,et al.  The Risk of a Safety-Critical Event Associated With Mobile Device Use in Specific Driving Contexts , 2015, Traffic injury prevention.

[5]  H. Abdul Shabeer,et al.  Averting mobile phone use while driving and technique to locate the mobile phone used vehicle , 2012 .

[6]  Sarah Ting,et al.  Psychological predictors of college students' cell phone use while driving. , 2010, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[7]  François Bellavance,et al.  Wireless telephones and the risk of road crashes. , 2003, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[8]  Muhannad Ismeik,et al.  Development of Driver Behavior's Accident Prediction Models , 2010 .

[9]  Muhannad Ismeik,et al.  Effect of Mineral Admixtures on Mechanical Properties of High Strength Concrete Made with Locally Available Materials , 2009 .

[10]  Feng Guo,et al.  Keep your eyes on the road: young driver crash risk increases according to duration of distraction. , 2014, The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

[11]  Tove Hels,et al.  Extent and variations in mobile phone use among drivers of heavy vehicles in Denmark. , 2006, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[12]  Flaura K Winston,et al.  Adolescent drivers' perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of abstention from in-vehicle cell phone use. , 2010, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[13]  David Crundall,et al.  Regulating Conversation During Driving: A Problem for Mobile Telephones? , 2005 .

[14]  Ahmed Al-Kaisy,et al.  Characterization of cell phone use while driving in Jordan , 2010 .

[15]  Fridulv Sagberg,et al.  Driving and telephoning: Relative accident risk when using hand-held and hands-free mobile phones , 2011 .

[16]  Fang Yan,et al.  Cell phone users, reported crash risk, unsafe driving behaviors and dispositions: a survey of motorists in Maryland. , 2007, Journal of safety research.

[17]  Christopher B. Mayhorn,et al.  Perceptions of Driver Distraction by Cellular Phone Users and Nonusers , 2005, Hum. Factors.

[18]  Anne T. McCartt,et al.  National Reported Patterns of Driver Cell Phone Use in the United States , 2010, Traffic injury prevention.

[19]  Charlene Hallett,et al.  Cell phone conversing while driving in New Zealand: prevalence, risk perception and legislation. , 2011, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[20]  Paul M. Salmon,et al.  Missing links? The effects of distraction on driver situation awareness , 2013 .

[21]  Mark J M Sullman,et al.  Mobile phone use while driving in a sample of Spanish university workers. , 2007, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[22]  MA Harrison,et al.  College students' prevalence and perceptions of text messaging while driving. , 2011, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[23]  C Collet,et al.  Phoning while driving II: a review of driving conditions influence , 2010, Ergonomics.

[24]  R. Tibshirani,et al.  Association between cellular-telephone calls and motor vehicle collisions. , 1997, The New England journal of medicine.

[25]  Katherine M White,et al.  Dialling and driving: factors influencing intentions to use a mobile phone while driving. , 2008, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[26]  T. Dingus,et al.  Distracted driving and risk of road crashes among novice and experienced drivers. , 2014, The New England journal of medicine.

[27]  Thomas A. Dingus,et al.  Estimating Crash Risk , 2011 .

[28]  Mark Asbridge,et al.  A meta-analysis of the effects of texting on driving. , 2014, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[29]  Heikki Summala,et al.  Factors influencing the use of cellular (mobile) phone during driving and hazards while using it. , 2005, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[30]  Dafna Lemish,et al.  Real Time and Recall Measures of Mobile Phone Use: Some Methodological Concerns and Empirical Applications , 2003, New Media Soc..

[31]  Dong-Chul Seo,et al.  The Impact of In-Vehicle Cell-Phone Use on Accidents or Near-Accidents Among College Students , 2004, Journal of American college health : J of ACH.

[32]  Richard J. Hanowski,et al.  Driver Distraction in Commercial Vehicle Operations , 2009 .

[33]  K. White,et al.  Texting while driving: psychosocial influences on young people's texting intentions and behaviour. , 2010, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[34]  Ming Fang,et al.  Collision and Violation Involvement of Drivers Who Use Cellular Telephones , 2003, Traffic injury prevention.

[35]  Anne T McCartt,et al.  Cell Phones and Driving: Review of Research , 2006, Traffic injury prevention.

[36]  William P. Berg,et al.  The effect of cellular telephone conversation and music listening on response time in braking , 2009 .

[37]  M. Woodward,et al.  Phone use and crashes while driving: a representative survey of drivers in two Australian states , 2006, The Medical journal of Australia.

[38]  Abu Sadat Nurullah,et al.  The prevalence of cell phone use while driving in a Canadian province , 2013 .

[39]  Strength Development Models of Concrete with Silica Fume As Fine Aggregate Replacement Material , 2012 .

[40]  R. Haddad,et al.  Prediction of mechanical properties of post-heated self-compacting concrete using non-destructive tests , 2014 .

[41]  Anne T McCartt,et al.  Long-Term Effects of Handheld Cell Phone Laws on Driver Handheld Cell Phone Use , 2010, Traffic injury prevention.

[42]  Ben Desbrow,et al.  The Influence of Drinking, Texting, and Eating on Simulated Driving Performance , 2015, Traffic injury prevention.

[43]  Kristie Lee Young,et al.  Driver engagement in distracting activities and the strategies used to minimise risk , 2010 .

[44]  Carol Holland,et al.  Influence of personal mobile phone ringing and usual intention to answer on driver error. , 2013, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[45]  C Collet,et al.  Phoning while driving I: a review of epidemiological, psychological, behavioural and physiological studies , 2010, Ergonomics.

[46]  Bryan Reimer,et al.  Self-reported and observed risky driving behaviors among frequent and infrequent cell phone users. , 2013, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[47]  Despina Stavrinos,et al.  Distracted walking: cell phones increase injury risk for college pedestrians. , 2011, Journal of safety research.

[48]  Corinne Brusque,et al.  Analysis of the individual factors affecting mobile phone use while driving in France: socio-demographic characteristics, car and phone use in professional and private contexts. , 2008, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[49]  Richard J. Hanowski,et al.  An Assessment of Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Distraction Using Naturalistic Driving Data , 2012, Traffic injury prevention.

[50]  P Green,et al.  WHERE DO DRIVERS LOOK WHILE DRIVING (AND FOR HOW LONG)? IN: HUMAN FACTORS IN TRAFFIC SAFETY , 2002 .

[51]  Thomas A. Dingus,et al.  The Impact of Driver Inattention on Near-Crash/Crash Risk: An Analysis Using the 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study Data , 2006 .