Why drivers use cell phones and support legislation to restrict this practice.

Sanbonmatsu, David M.; Strayer, David L.; Behrends, Arwen A.; Medeiros-Ward, Nathan; Watson, Jason M.

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Why drivers use cell phones and support legislation to restrict this practice.

2017-04-01
By Sanbonmatsu, David M. ; Strayer, David L. ; Behrends, Arwen A.

File Language:

English

Details

Creators:

Sanbonmatsu, David M. ; Strayer, David L. ; Behrends, Arwen A. ; Medeiros-Ward, Nathan ; Watson, Jason M.
Corporate Creators:

University of Utah
Corporate Contributors:

Mountain Plains Consortium
Subject/TRT Terms:
Publication/ Report Number:

MPC 17-323
Resource Type:

Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:

United States
Corporate Publisher:

Mountain Plains Consortium
Abstract:

A study was conducted to investigate why people talk on a cell phone while driving and why they also support legislation to restrict this practice. Participants completed a survey about their driving attitudes, abilities, and behaviors, and performed the OSPAN task. They reported using cell phones for benefits such as connecting with friends and getting work done. They generally acknowledged the risks of using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle but downplayed them relative to drinking and driving. Regression analyses suggest that people talk on a cell phone, in part, because they believe they are personally capable of driving safely while doing so. However, there was little relation between participants’ self-assessments of their ability to drive safely and their actual multitasking ability as measured by the OSPAN task. Participants saw others’ usage of cell phones while driving as much riskier than their own. Support for laws to restrict cellular communication was strongly predicted by the perceived threat to public safety presented by others’ cell phone usage. In addition, as the perceived benefits of cell phone use decreased, support for legislation increased.
Format:

PDF
Download URL:

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/32241/dot_32241_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 996.80 KB]
Collection(s):

University Transportation Centers ; US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha256:cfba84f8e7b1a19b2790db37bb4ab3040c7fba961f9c7bc1925379837909e00a

File Language:

English

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