Do comparative judgements affect the perceived relevance of mobile phone road safety campaigns?

OBJECTIVE: Given the prevalence of illegal mobile phone use while driving and reliance upon messaging campaigns in deterring the behavior, there is a need to explore to what extent comparative judgements may influence desired outcomes of such campaigns. This exploratory study investigated (a) the perceived relevance and influence of different mobile phone road safety campaigns within a sample of Queensland motorists who reported using their mobile phone while driving and (b) if these varied depending on whether participants believed that their crash risk whilst using a phone was higher (comparative pessimism), lower (comparative optimism) or similar to the same-age and sex driver. METHODS: A total of 350 licensed drivers residing within Queensland (Australia) were included in this study, of which 200 reported using their hand-held phone on some occasion. Participation involved completing a 20-25 min online anonymous survey, which included viewing three mobile phone road safety campaigns (injury-based, sanction-based and humor) and responding to questions about the perceived relevance and impact of each campaign. RESULTS: A total of 64 (32%) participants displayed comparative optimism, 50 displayed similar judgements (25%) and 86 (43%) exhibited comparative pessimism. First, it was found that the injury-based campaign was perceived to be significantly more relevant than the humor campaign. Second, whilst the relevance of each campaign did not vary as a function of group membership, the campaigns were significantly less relevant to those displaying comparative optimism relative to those with similar judgements and comparative pessimism. Finally, the injury-based campaign was perceived to be significantly more influential than the other campaigns. However, overall, participants displaying comparative optimism believed that they would be less influenced by the campaigns compared to those with comparative pessimism. CONCLUSIONS: Although preliminary, these findings suggest that low perceptions of risk may dilute or extinguish the desired behavioral outcomes of mobile phone road safety campaigns. Nonetheless, experimental research is needed to examine these effects directly.

Cognitive correlates of reduced driving performance in healthy older adults: A meta-analytic review.

AIMS / OBJECTIVES: This meta-analytic review examines the evidence for the relationship between cognitive function and driving performance in older adults. The primary aims of this review were: (a) to identify cognitive correlates of reduced driving performance in older adults and (b) to determine whether such measures reliably predict reductions in driving performance over time. METHODS: This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Peer reviewed studies that examined the (cross-sectional or longitudinal) relationship between standardised neuropsychological test performance measures and driving performance (e.g., via an on-road test, in-vehicle monitoring system, hazard perception test or driving simulator) in healthy adults aged 60 years and older, were included. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: Eighteen studies were eligible for inclusion, of which 12 met requirements for meta-analysis. The results indicated that reaction time and Trail Making Test (TMT) A scores exhibited small-to-moderate correlations with driving performance, with moderate effects identified for block design, TMT B, Useful Field of View (UFOV) 2 and 3 tests. Further, no significant relationships were observed between the Mini-Mental State Examination and UFOV 1 with driving performance. Due to a paucity of data, the longitudinal relationship between such measures and driving could not be identified. The findings highlight (a) the potential of cognitive assessments to identify older adults at risk of driving impairment (as part of a larger diagnostic assessment), and (b) the urgent need for prospective longitudinal studies in investigating the impact of age-related changes in cognition on driving performance over time.

Community narratives on Facebook regarding mobile phone use while driving and road policing technologies.

Objective: Mobile phone use while driving is a major cause of distraction and area for concern. Numerous factors have been shown to be associated with engagement in mobile phone use while driving, including peer influences and social media content encouraging the behavior. Phone detection cameras are being increasingly utilized to enforce the hand-held mobile phone use while driving ban in Australia, yet this has been accompanied by an emergence of camera location pages on social media platforms such as Facebook. Research is clearly needed to explore the nature and extent of this online content, since such information can be used to counteract any negative effects on enforcement.Methods: Accordingly, this exploratory study analyzed content on Facebook pertaining to mobile phone use while driving, enforcement of the behavior and legal penalties associated with the behavior.Results: A total of 167 public Facebook posts shared within Australia in January to October 2021 were examined. Overall, it was found that: (a) a large proportion (74%) of posts focused on the location of mobile phone cameras, (b) whilst most discussions centered around discouraging mobile phone use while driving, a large number also aimed to facilitate avoiding detection for the behavior. Finally, very few posts/comments acknowledged the risks associated with the behavior, including the risk of being caught.Conclusions: This research provides preliminary evidence that social media platforms appear to provide an avenue to reduce the likelihood of apprehension. Avenues for future research are discussed.

Perceptions matter: speeding behavior varies as a function of increasing perceived exposure to content encouraging the behavior.

OBJECTIVE: Speeding is a high-risk behavior that accounts for a significant number of crashes and fatalities across the globe. Prior research indicates that a relationship exists between exposure to speeding behavior (via one's peers or mass media) and subsequent engagement in the behavior. However, no study to date has quantified the perceived extent to which individuals are exposed to such content. Further, the impact of social media content on speeding behavior, relative to peer engagement and mass media sources, has not been investigated. Accordingly, this exploratory study aimed to: (a) quantify the self-reported extent to which the sample believe they were exposed to content encouraging speeding on social media, mass media and peer engagement in the behavior, and (b) examine whether speeding behavior varied as a function of increasing exposure to the behavior via these mediums. METHODS: A total of 628 Queensland motorists with a Facebook account were included in this study. Participation involved completing an online survey of 20-25 minutes duration. RESULTS: Consistent with previous research, half of the sample reported speeding more than 10% of the time they drive (n = 315). On average, participants believed they were exposed to content encouraging speeding behavior 40% of the time via mass media (e.g., television, movies or gaming) and 29% of the time on social media. In addition, they perceived their friends to exceed the speed limit 39% of the time. Finally, self-reported speeding behavior varied as a function of exposure, such that exposure levels were significantly higher in speeders than non-speeders. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study suggest that perceptions concerning the frequency with which individuals are exposed to material encouraging speeding via mass media or social media, and their perceptions regarding their peers' engagement in the behavior, all correspond with engagement in speeding behavior. Future research is needed to disentangle the relative impact of such mediums on speeding behavior, and the levels of exposure required to induce behavior change on the road.

Is there an observational effect? An exploratory study into speed cameras and self-reported offending behaviour.

Fixed and mobile speed cameras are an important element of enforcement initiatives designed to create a strong deterrent effect and improve road safety. Despite the widespread use of the technology and the need to create a strong deterrent effect, research has yet to determine if there is a relationship between levels of exposure to the devices and subsequent self-reported deterrent effects. As a result, licensed motorists (N=536; 51% female) in Queensland (Australia) were recruited to complete a questionnaire that measured exposure to speed cameras and associated offending behaviours. Data were analyzed utilising descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistics. The key findings that emerged were: the sample reported a higher level of exposure to fixed cameras (even though there are more operational mobile cameras), younger males were most likely to speed and be observant of speed cameras and that perceived certainty of apprehension was the largest reported deterrent force. However, a positive (rather than negative) relationship was found between perceived camera exposure levels and speeding behaviours, which indicates a range of additional factors (both legal and non-legal factors as well as driving exposure levels) influence speed limit non-compliance. Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed that higher levels of perceptual certainty were associated with general speed compliance and perceptions of the severity and swiftness of sanctions, rather than levels of self-reported camera exposure. This paper is the first to reveal that while motorists prone to speed may be more cognisant of speed camera operations, this in itself does not ensure appropriate behaviour modification.

Does getting away with it count? An application of stafford and warr's reconceptualised model of deterrence to drink driving.

Drink drivers continue to be disproportionately represented in road mortalities and morbidities. Given these costs, countermeasures that effectively reduce the behaviour (and its consequences) are imperative. Research has produced inconsistent findings regarding the deterrent effects of some countermeasures on drink driving behaviour, namely legal sanctions, suggesting other factors may be more influential. This study aimed to determine which deterrence measures based on Classical Deterrence Theory and Stafford and Warr's (1993) reconceptualised model of deterrence influence the propensity to drink and drive over the legal blood alcohol content limit of 0.05. In total, 1257 Australian drivers aged from 16 to 85 years completed a questionnaire assessing their self-reported drink driving behaviour and perceptions of legal sanctions. Consistent with previous research, past experiences of direct punishment avoidance was the most significant predictor of drink driving. Additionally, perceptions of personal certainty of apprehension were a significant (albeit weak) negative predictor of drink driving. Counterintuitively, experiences of indirect punishment were predictive of self-reported drink driving. Similarly, penalty severity produced mixed results as those who considered a penalty would be severe were less likely to drink and drive. However those that considered the penalty would cause a considerable impact on their lives, were more likely to drink and drive. Taken together, these findings suggest that while the threat of apprehension and punishment may influence self-reported drink driving behaviours, committing and offence while avoiding detection is a significant influence upon ongoing offending. This paper will further elaborate on the findings in regards to developing salient and effective deterrents that produce a lasting effect.