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Cell Phone Use While Driving
Presentation to the London
Middlesex Road Safety Committee
April 14, 2014
Background
• Using a cell phone was 4.3 times higher than the risk when a cell phone was not being used while driving
• As of October 26, 2009, Ontario has made it illegal to talk, text, dial or email using hand-held cell phones or other hand-held communication and entertainment devices while driving2
• February 1, 2010: tickets for using hand-held cell phones while driving = $155 ticket
• March, 2014: Ticket increased to $280
• Although there is a perception that hands-free devices are safer, researchers cite that hands-free device use does not eliminate or reduce cognitive distraction
Questions
• Who is more likely to talk or text while driving?
• Who is more likely to not use the hands-free mode while driving?
• Are drivers complying with the new legislative restrictions on the use of hand-held phones while driving?
Objectives
1. To measure the difference in cell phone use while driving before, during and after the implementation of the ban;
2. To identify subgroups more likely to talk or text while driving; and,
3. To identify subgroups more likely to use the hands-free mode while driving.
Results
48.0%
36.9%
31.6%
35.6%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Pre-Ban (08-Oct09)
Initial Ban(Nov09-Jan10)
Fines (Feb10-Dec10)
No data (2011) Fines after 3 yrs(2012)
Pe
rce
nt
of
dri
ve
rs (
%)
No data
Figure 1: Percent of the drivers (18+) talking or texting while driving,
Middlesex-London, 2008-2012
Source: Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System 2008-2012
Results
• Cell phone use while driving decreased after the initial legislation and enactment of fines, however, this rate increased in 2012, suggesting that there was only a short-term decline following the legislation and an increasing trend thereafter
• Overall decrease in cell phone use while driving, over this time period, was 12.4%
Results
• 35.7% of respondents in the Middlesex-
London region reported talking or
texting while driving in a typical week
– Being young, male, and having a higher
household income were significantly
associated with talking or texting while
driving
Results
• driving
• 73% reported only
using the hands-free
mode when talking
on the phone while
• Those who were
female and had a
degree/diploma
were more likely to
report using hands-
free
Discussion • Limitations:
– Illegal activity respondents may attempt to conceal or underestimate behaviour
– Unknown to what extent self-reported behaviour is reflective of actual behaviour on the road
• This study provides a better understanding of who is most likely to talk or text while driving
• Interventions should focus on subgroups of the population who are most likely to talk or text and drive, especially younger adults, males, and higher income earners
Concerns
• Who is more likely to use the hands-free
mode or least likely to use the hands-
free mode – what is the intervention for?
Methods and Analysis
• Data was analyzed from the Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS), a longitudinal population health survey
• Binary logistic regression was used to examine the association between talking or texting while driving and sociodemographic variables
• A time-trend analysis was used to analyze the change in cell phone usage while driving during four time periods: o “Pre-legislation”: January 2008-October 15, 2009
o “Initial legislation”: October 16, 2009-January 31, 2010
o “Implementation of Fines”: February 1, 2010-December 31, 2010
o “Post-implementation”: January 1, 2012-December 31, 2012