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Adolescents' perspectives on distracted driving legislation
Caitlin N Pope1, Jessica H Mirman2, Despina Stavrinos2
1Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States.
Journal of Safety Research
|March 17, 2019
Summary
Adolescent support for distracted driving laws is linked to perceived safety threats and gender. Female teens are more likely to back texting bans, while perceived danger influences all teens toward stricter legislation.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Traffic Safety Research
- Adolescent Psychology
Background:
- Distracted driving is a significant global issue, particularly among adolescent drivers.
- Existing public health and legislative efforts show modest success in reducing crash risks.
- Adolescent non-compliance with driving laws, including distracted driving, is a notable concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between demographic factors, perceived safety threats, and peer influences on adolescent support for distracted driving legislation.
- To examine adolescent perceptions regarding laws on texting/emailing, hand-held cell phone use, and non-driving-related-in-vehicle (NDIV) technology use while driving.
Main Methods:
- Survey data collected from 379 adolescents aged 15-19 from public high schools.
- Statistical analyses included bivariate correlations and adjusted odds ratios to assess factors influencing legislative support.
- Self-report measures assessed demographics, perceptions of distracted driving, and support for specific legislation.
Main Results:
- Female adolescents showed twice the odds of supporting laws against texting/emailing while driving compared to males.
- Increased perceived threat to safety was significantly associated with support for all three types of distracted driving legislation.
- Peer influences demonstrated a minimal association with support for distracted driving laws.
Conclusions:
- Perceived threat to safety and gender are key factors associated with adolescent support for distracted driving legislation.
- Public health campaigns emphasizing perceived threat may resonate more with female adolescent drivers.
- Further research is needed to understand adolescent perspectives and promote compliance with distracted driving laws.