Behavioural adaptation to mobile phone legislation: Could there be unintended consequences of partial bans

Christina M Rudin-Brown; Kristie L Young; Michael G Lenne

Behavioural adaptation to mobile phone legislation: Could there be unintended consequences of partial bans

Christina M Rudin-Brown, Kristie L Young, Michael G Lenne

Monash University Accident Research Centre

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Behavioural adaptation refers to unintended changes in behaviour that follow a change to the road transport system. Legal restrictions on handheld mobile phone use may inadvertently encourage some drivers to use more easily concealed forms of electronic communication, such as text-messaging. An observational mobile phone use survey was conducted of vehicles stopped at intersections in the state of Victoria, Australia. The survey aimed to quantify Melbourne drivers’ use of hand-held and hands-free phones, as well as their
engagement in a range of other non-driving activities that are associated with increased crash risk. Despite legislation prohibiting the use of handheld mobile phones while driving, a significant proportion of drivers (3.4%) were observed engaging in handheld mobile phone use, including text-messaging (1.5%). Conversely, only 1.4 percent of drivers were observed to be communicating via a legally allowed, hands free, device. While the observational survey was not designed to test the behavioural adaptation hypothesis, the results may suggest
this possibility; however, further research is required before this can be established.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	First International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention
Place of Publication	Gothenburg, Sweden
Publisher	Chalmers University of Technology
Pages	1-12
Number of pages	12
Publication status	Published - 2009
Event	International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention 2009 - Gothenburg, Sweden Duration: 28 Sept 2009 → 29 Sept 2009 Conference number: 1st https://trid.trb.org/view/1371602

Conference

Conference	International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention 2009
Abbreviated title	DDI 2009
Country/Territory	Sweden
City	Gothenburg
Period	28/09/09 → 29/09/09
Other	http://www.chalmers.se/safer/driverdistraction-en/about
Internet address	https://trid.trb.org/view/1371602

Cite this

@inproceedings{781b4ba3805e4bcc92dd727ef929f83c,

title = "Behavioural adaptation to mobile phone legislation: Could there be unintended consequences of partial bans",

abstract = "Behavioural adaptation refers to unintended changes in behaviour that follow a change to the road transport system. Legal restrictions on handheld mobile phone use may inadvertently encourage some drivers to use more easily concealed forms of electronic communication, such as text-messaging. An observational mobile phone use survey was conducted of vehicles stopped at intersections in the state of Victoria, Australia. The survey aimed to quantify Melbourne drivers{\textquoteright} use of hand-held and hands-free phones, as well as their engagement in a range of other non-driving activities that are associated with increased crash risk. Despite legislation prohibiting the use of handheld mobile phones while driving, a significant proportion of drivers (3.4\%) were observed engaging in handheld mobile phone use, including text-messaging (1.5\%). Conversely, only 1.4 percent of drivers were observed to be communicating via a legally allowed, hands free, device. While the observational survey was not designed to test the behavioural adaptation hypothesis, the results may suggest this possibility; however, further research is required before this can be established.",

author = "Rudin-Brown, \{Christina M\} and Young, \{Kristie L\} and Lenne, \{Michael G\}",

year = "2009",

language = "English",

pages = "1--12",

booktitle = "First International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention",

publisher = "Chalmers University of Technology",

note = "International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention 2009, DDI 2009 ; Conference date: 28-09-2009 Through 29-09-2009",

url = "https://trid.trb.org/view/1371602",

}

Rudin-Brown, CM, Young, KL & Lenne, MG 2009, Behavioural adaptation to mobile phone legislation: Could there be unintended consequences of partial bans. in First International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention., A64-P, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden, pp. 1-12, International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention 2009, Gothenburg, Sweden, 28/09/09.

Behavioural adaptation to mobile phone legislation: Could there be unintended consequences of partial bans. / Rudin-Brown, Christina M; Young, Kristie L; Lenne, Michael G.
First International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention. Gothenburg, Sweden: Chalmers University of Technology, 2009. p. 1-12 A64-P.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Research › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Behavioural adaptation to mobile phone legislation

T2 - International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention 2009

AU - Rudin-Brown, Christina M

AU - Young, Kristie L

AU - Lenne, Michael G

N1 - Conference code: 1st

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - Behavioural adaptation refers to unintended changes in behaviour that follow a change to the road transport system. Legal restrictions on handheld mobile phone use may inadvertently encourage some drivers to use more easily concealed forms of electronic communication, such as text-messaging. An observational mobile phone use survey was conducted of vehicles stopped at intersections in the state of Victoria, Australia. The survey aimed to quantify Melbourne drivers’ use of hand-held and hands-free phones, as well as their engagement in a range of other non-driving activities that are associated with increased crash risk. Despite legislation prohibiting the use of handheld mobile phones while driving, a significant proportion of drivers (3.4%) were observed engaging in handheld mobile phone use, including text-messaging (1.5%). Conversely, only 1.4 percent of drivers were observed to be communicating via a legally allowed, hands free, device. While the observational survey was not designed to test the behavioural adaptation hypothesis, the results may suggest this possibility; however, further research is required before this can be established.

AB - Behavioural adaptation refers to unintended changes in behaviour that follow a change to the road transport system. Legal restrictions on handheld mobile phone use may inadvertently encourage some drivers to use more easily concealed forms of electronic communication, such as text-messaging. An observational mobile phone use survey was conducted of vehicles stopped at intersections in the state of Victoria, Australia. The survey aimed to quantify Melbourne drivers’ use of hand-held and hands-free phones, as well as their engagement in a range of other non-driving activities that are associated with increased crash risk. Despite legislation prohibiting the use of handheld mobile phones while driving, a significant proportion of drivers (3.4%) were observed engaging in handheld mobile phone use, including text-messaging (1.5%). Conversely, only 1.4 percent of drivers were observed to be communicating via a legally allowed, hands free, device. While the observational survey was not designed to test the behavioural adaptation hypothesis, the results may suggest this possibility; however, further research is required before this can be established.

UR - http://www.chalmers.se/safer/driverdistraction-en/programme/documentation

M3 - Conference Paper

SP - 1

EP - 12

BT - First International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention

PB - Chalmers University of Technology

CY - Gothenburg, Sweden

Y2 - 28 September 2009 through 29 September 2009

ER -

Behavioural adaptation to mobile phone legislation: Could there be unintended consequences of partial bans

Abstract

Conference

Other files and links

Cite this