Designing and validating a questionnaire to understand beliefs, intentions, and behaviors relating to distracted driving in young people

Objective: Distracted driving, particularly any activity requiring long glances toward a phone while driving, is common among young drivers and represents a significant road safety concern. This study used a theory-informed approach to design a questionnaire examining beliefs, intentions, and behaviors relating to distracted driving in young people. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 20 high school students were conducted using the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction (IMBP) framework to explore attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavioral control. The beliefs identified were incorporated into a 38-item closed-ended questionnaire. The questionnaire was then administered to a geographically representative sample of US high school students with a driver's license. Statistical analyses included correlation analysis and linear regression to evaluate interrelationships among questionnaire items and their associations with established distracted driving measures. Results: Among the geographically representative survey sample (N = 1,126), 50.5% were 18 years of age and 50.9% were female. Participants reported spending an average of 21.1% (SD = 24.6%) of each trip glancing at their phones while driving, and participants estimated that 26.5% (SD = 28.1%) of these glances were two seconds or longer. Reliability analysis showed Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.63 (injunctive norms) to 0.83 (negative outcome expectations). Correlation coefficients between proposed measures and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) questions ranged from 0.22 to 0.50, indicating weak to moderate relationships. Regression analysis demonstrated significant associations between intentions and beliefs: positive outcome expectations (b = 0.01, p < .01), negative outcome expectations (b = -0.01, p < .001), injunctive norms (b = -0.01, p < .01), descriptive norms (b = 0.03, p < .001), and perceived behavioral control (b = -0.01, p < .01). Conclusion: This study investigated the beliefs and behaviors of young drivers regarding making prolonged glances toward a phone while driving, guided by IMBP theory. Findings suggest that the Distracted Driving Belief Questionnaire (DDBQ) is a valuable tool for understanding this high-risk behavior. The DDBQ may help inform interventions to reduce phone-related distractions and enhance road safety among young drivers.