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