Carson Downer
Research Mentor(s): Tammy Chang
Mentor Department: Family Medicine
Authors: Carson Downer, Renée St. Louis, Xochitl Amaro, Jennifer Zakrajsek, Rohit Agarwal, Marika Waselewski, Tammy Chang
Session: Session 7 (4:00pm – 4: 50pm)
Presentation Type: Oral
Abstract
Purpose: Motor vehicle crashes due to distracted driving are a leading cause of death among youth. Hands-free driving laws, aimed at reducing cell phone use, have been adopted in many states, but their effectiveness is uncertain. This research seeks to understand youths’ perceptions of cell phone use while driving and the effectiveness of hands-free driving laws. Methods: Using the MyVoice nationwide text message poll of youth, this study sent five open-ended questions related to distracted driving, cell phone use, and hands-free driving laws to youth aged 14-24 years across the United States. Qualitative text message responses were analyzed using content analysis. Demographic data collected upon enrollment was summarized using descriptive statistics. Results: Out of 756 participants, 577 (76.3%) responded to at least one question. The average age was 20.2 years (SD= 2.6), 50.4% of the respondents were female, 52.2% were non-Hispanic White, and 67.8% lived in a state with a full hands-free law. Key findings include: (1) Most youth believe cell phone use is dangerous and a significant distraction while driving, (2) Most are aware of hands-free driving laws, but believe hands-free laws are only somewhat or not effective, and (3) Improved education and advancements in technology could more effectively reduce distracted driving. Conclusion: Despite recognizing the dangers, most youth in our sample reported that cell phones remain a significant distraction while driving. Youth expressed mixed perceptions of the effectiveness of hands-free driving laws. Youth-centered strategies that educate and increase the use of effective tools may improve overall road safety.
