Citation

Russo BJ, Kay JJ, Savolainen PT, Gates TJ. J. Saf. Res. 2014; 49: 137.e1-1142.

Affiliation

Wayne State University, 5050 Anthony Wayne Drive, EDC 0504.01, Detroit, MI 48202, United States. Electronic address: tjgates@wayne.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsr.2014.03.001

PMID

24913479

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The effects of cell phone use and safety belt use have been an important focus of research related to driver safety. Cell phone use has been shown to be a significant source of driver distraction contributing to substantial degradations in driver performance, while safety belts have been demonstrated to play a vital role in mitigating injuries to crash-involved occupants.

METHOD: This study examines the prevalence of cell phone use and safety belt non-use among the driving population through direct observation surveys. A bivariate probit model is developed to simultaneously examine the factors that affect cell phone and safety belt use among motor vehicle drivers.

RESULTS: The results show that several factors may influence drivers' decision to use cell phones and safety belts, and that these decisions are correlated. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Understanding the factors that affect both cell phone use and safety belt non-use is essential to targeting policy and programs that reduce such behavior.


Keywords: Driver distraction;

Language: en