Mobile phone use while driving in a sample of Spanish university workers.

Full Abstract

A number of epidemiological studies have reported drivers who use a mobile phone while driving have an elevated risk of being involved in a crash. This is particularly concerning as a survey of drivers in the Spanish region of Catalunya found that approximately 87% own mobile phones. The present study investigated the reported frequency of mobile phone use on Spanish roads (for talking and using SMS), the characteristics of the drivers who use mobile phones while driving and whether they altered their driving behaviour when using a mobile phone. The research found that more than 60% use a mobile phone while driving and that the phone is mostly used for making calls, rather than using SMS. In general, males and females use mobile phones about the same reported frequency, although males were more likely to use a mobile phone to talk on the highway. The pattern for age was the same for both male and female participants, with the younger drivers using SMS more frequently than older drivers. On urban roads almost half of the drivers reported changing their driving behaviour when using a mobile phone, while on the highway this figure was slightly over 41%. The reported frequency of using a mobile phone to talk on urban roads was significantly correlated with crash involvement. However, this affect disappeared once the contributions of the demographic and descriptive variables had been partialled out.

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Author information

Author/s: Gras, M Eugenia (ME); Cunill, Monica (M); Sullman, Mark J M (MJ); Planes, Montserrat (M); Aymerich, Maria (M); Font-Mayolas, Silvia (S);

Affiliation: Quality of Life Research Institute, Department of Psychology, University of Girona, Emili Grahit, 77 17071 Girona, Spain. eugenia.gras(-atsign-)udg.es

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Accident; analysis and prevention (Accid Anal Prev), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Mar; vol 39 (issue 2) : pp 347-55

Dates: Created 2006/12/12; Completed 2007/03/27;

PMID: 17034749, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data
Adult
Automobile Driving
Cellular Phone - utilization
Equipment Design
Female

Female
Humans
Male
Risk Assessment
Risk-Taking
Spain

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