Brendan J Russo1, Jonathan J Kay2, Peter T Savolainen3, Timothy J Gates4. 1. Wayne State University, 5050 Anthony Wayne Drive, EDC 0504.01, Detroit, MI 48202, United States. Electronic address: brendan@wayne.edu. 2. Wayne State University, 5050 Anthony Wayne Drive, EDC 0504.01, Detroit, MI 48202, United States. Electronic address: jjkay@wayne.edu. 3. Wayne State University, 5050 Anthony Wayne Drive, EDC 0504.01, Detroit, MI 48202, United States. Electronic address: savolainen@wayne.edu. 4. Wayne State University, 5050 Anthony Wayne Drive, EDC 0504.01, Detroit, MI 48202, United States. Electronic address: tjgates@wayne.edu.
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.
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.
Authors: Ziyad R Mahfoud; Sohaila Cheema; Hekmat Alrouh; Mohammed Hamad Al-Thani; Al Anoud Mohammed Al-Thani; Ravinder Mamtani Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-09-22 Impact factor: 3.295