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Abstract
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BACKGROUND: The use of a cell phone when driving has been recognized as a type of distraction worldwide. Addictive tendency to use technology, including cell phone use while driving may be a substantial problem for drivers and increasing risk of accidents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of drivers' addiction to use a cell phone while driving.
Materials and Methods: A sample of 400 drivers with ages 18-65 years old completed a questionnaire which was designed based on Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Hierarchical regression analysis was utilized to predict drivers' addiction to use a cell phone while driving on demographic characteristics and TPB components.
Results: Drivers had mean age of 35.63(8.72) and were 77% male, and 23% female. Tests of validity and reliability were conducted for every variable. According to findings, the hierarchical regression analysis model showed that the TPB was able to predict 59% variance in addiction toward cell phone use and attitude emerging as the strongest predictor during this analysis. All components of TPB were more independent to age than gender.
Conclusion: The fundamental TPB components were directly associated with the addiction to use a cell phone when driving. The present study has identified that older drivers were considerably less probable to use a cell phone while driving. Also this study showed that males use a cell phone significantly more frequent. More practical road safety measures are required to rebuff and mitigate the effects of using cell phones while driving.
Keywords: Human factors, Traffic accident, Distraction, Cell phone, Drivers, Automobile drivers, Driver distraction
Language: en |