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Dialling and driving: factors influencing intentions to use a mobile phone while driving.

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Walsh SP, White KM, Hyde MK, Watson B. · 2008

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Personal attitudes drive phone use while driving more than risk awareness, suggesting safety education alone won't reduce wireless device dangers.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers studied what psychological factors influence people's intentions to use mobile phones while driving, examining attitudes, social pressure, and risk perceptions across different driving scenarios. They found that personal attitudes consistently predicted phone use intentions while driving, and pressure from others influenced some decisions, but surprisingly, risk perception didn't make people choose safer driving behaviors. This suggests that reducing distracted driving requires multiple approaches targeting different psychological motivations.

Why This Matters

While this study doesn't directly measure EMF exposure levels, it reveals a critical gap in how we address wireless device risks. The finding that risk perception doesn't predict safer driving behavior mirrors broader patterns in EMF health awareness. People continue using devices despite growing evidence of potential harm, often because convenience and social pressure override health concerns. What this means for you is that education about EMF risks alone may not change behavior. The research suggests we need comprehensive strategies that address not just the science, but also social norms and practical barriers to safer technology use. This behavioral insight becomes increasingly important as we navigate the health implications of our wireless world.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

The present study utilised the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to examine the role of attitudes, norms, control factors, and risk perceptions, in predicting people's intentions to use their mobile phone while driving

We examined the predictors of intentions to use a mobile phone while driving in general, and for cal...

There was some support for the TPB given that attitudes consistently predicted intentions to drive w...

These findings indicate that different factors influence each form of mobile phone use while driving and, hence, a multi-strategy approach is likely to be required to address the issue.

Cite This Study
Walsh SP, White KM, Hyde MK, Watson B. (2008). Dialling and driving: factors influencing intentions to use a mobile phone while driving. Accid Anal Prev. 40(6):1893-1900, 2008.
Show BibTeX
@article{sp_2008_dialling_and_driving_factors_2676,
  author = {Walsh SP and White KM and Hyde MK and Watson B.},
  title = {Dialling and driving: factors influencing intentions to use a mobile phone while driving.},
  year = {2008},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19068291/},
}
PubMed: 19068291

Cited By (272 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

Research shows personal attitudes consistently predict whether people intend to use phones while driving, but surprisingly, risk perception doesn't influence safer driving decisions. Social pressure from others affects some phone use choices, suggesting distracted driving involves complex psychological factors beyond simple risk awareness.
This study focused on psychological factors rather than radiation effects, finding that attitudes and social pressure influence phone use intentions while driving. The research examined behavioral motivations, not biological effects of electromagnetic fields on brain function during driving tasks.
The study examined different forms of mobile phone use while driving and found that various psychological factors influence each type differently. This suggests that both handheld and hands-free use involve distinct behavioral motivations requiring targeted safety approaches.
Research reveals that personal attitudes consistently predict phone use intentions while driving, while risk perception surprisingly doesn't promote safer behavior. Social pressure from significant others also influences some driving phone use decisions, indicating multiple psychological factors override safety concerns.
Studies show that pressure from significant others influences some people's intentions to use mobile phones while driving. However, personal attitudes remain the strongest predictor of phone use while driving, suggesting social factors play a secondary but measurable role in these decisions.