Drive in the Moment – Technical Summary

How and why young drivers use smartphones

In Australia, young drivers are both more accepting of technology and more likely than any other age group to use a mobile phone while driving, particularly a smartphone and its additional functions.

Young drivers are therefore at an increased risk of road trauma from smartphone use. Reducing mobile phone use while driving is a “wicked” problem that has been the subject of extensive research and policy attention worldwide. To date, research into mobile phone use has largely focused on the social purposes for which phones are used while driving (e.g. calling and texting) and the psychosocial factors (psychological and social factors) motivating such behaviours. This program of research extends the body of research by also focusing on other ways people engage with their phones while driving such as listening to music and using navigation apps. Several theories and related concepts have been used to explore the factors that influence smartphone use while driving including the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). The TPB (including its limitations) is discussed here in some detail because it is central to understanding the research, its results and its application in the design of the toolkit.