Driving Distractions Perceptions among Young Drivers in an Urban Area of Shah Alam

Kamaluddin, Noor Azreena; Shuhaimi, Nur Sabrina Mohamad; Hashim, Wardati; Ishak, Siti Zaharah · 2022 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.21834/ebpj.v7isi8.3908

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Summary

This study investigates the perceptions of driving distractions among young drivers (aged 18–34) in Shah Alam, Malaysia, a region with high road traffic accident mortality. Motivated by the high risk of accidents associated with young drivers and the prevalence of mobile phone usage while driving, the research aims to identify specific causes of visual, manual, and cognitive distractions, evaluate their effects on driving performance, and propose management recommendations. The researchers collected primary data via a self-administered online questionnaire distributed through social media platforms over two months in 2021. The survey targeted 184 respondents, predominantly female students. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, employing descriptive statistics and odds ratios to assess the frequency of distractions, their perceived impact on safety, and the relationship between distractions, traffic violations, and accident involvement. The results identified mobile phone usage as the leading cause of both visual (looking at the phone) and manual (texting) distractions. For cognitive distractions, drowsiness and alcohol or drug intoxication were ranked highest. While 77% of respondents acknowledged that young drivers are at higher risk for accidents and prone to distraction, the study found no statistically significant relationship between any type of distraction and actual traffic violations or road traffic accident involvement over the previous 24 months. However, 54% of respondents reported committing traffic violations due to distraction, and 31.5% reported experiencing accidents due to distraction. Notably, male drivers who violated traffic regulations were approximately four times more likely to be involved in accidents than those who did not, while females were twice as likely. Despite recognizing mobile phone use as a major hazard, respondents ranked banning mobile phone use while driving as a low-priority recommendation, preferring stricter enforcement against drunk driving and education on driving distractions. The study concludes that while young drivers perceive mobile phone use, reaching for objects, and intoxication as primary distractions, these factors did not show a statistically significant link to accident involvement in this specific sample. The authors recommend enhanced education in driving schools regarding distractions, stricter enforcement against drunk driving, and the implementation of "driving modes" on mobile devices to disable distracting functions. They suggest future research should compare novice and experienced drivers and examine distractions in real-time driving scenarios.

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Topics

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• visual
• mobile phones
• external distraction
• distraction detection algorithms
• manual
• auditory

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence
• Theoretical Contribution: conceptual framework, theory or model