Study on the prevalence of mobile phone use by car drivers – the case of Poland

Szrywer, Paulina; Wachnicka, Joanna; Kustra, Wojciech; Pellegrino, Orazio · 2021 · DOAJ (Archives of Civil Engineering)

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Summary

This study investigates the prevalence of mobile phone use among car drivers in Poland, addressing the significant road safety risks associated with distracted driving. Motivated by the known negative impacts of mobile device usage on driver perception, attention, and reaction time, the research aims to quantify this behavior through both direct observation and self-reported data. The authors highlight that while roadside surveys typically capture only momentary instances of distraction, self-report surveys provide a broader understanding of habitual behavior, despite potential biases. The methodology employed a dual approach: a roadside observation survey conducted in Gdańsk, Poland, and an online questionnaire. The field study, carried out in October 2020, involved observing 1,867 drivers in motion and 203 drivers stopped at traffic lights. Observers recorded specific behaviors, including holding the phone to the ear, manual manipulation, and use of hands-free devices. For stopped vehicles, demographic data such as gender and age were also estimated. Complementing this, an online survey collected responses from 252 licensed drivers via social media and email. The questionnaire covered frequency of use, context (moving vs. stopped), method of use, purpose, and perceived safety risks. Statistical analysis included 95% confidence interval estimations for the survey results. The findings reveal a discrepancy between observed and reported behavior. Roadside observations indicated that 11.6% of drivers in motion were using mobile phones, with 8.9% manually manipulating the device and 2.6% holding it to their ear. Among drivers stopped at traffic lights, the prevalence rose to 26.1%, with 14.3% manipulating the device, 8.9% using hands-free systems, and 3.0% holding it to the ear. In contrast, the online survey showed that 82.9% of respondents admitted to using mobile phones while driving, though 44.4% reported doing so rarely. Most users (58.9%) engaged in this behavior both while moving and stopped, primarily in built-up areas. The majority held the device in their hand (43.5%) for calls or messaging (81.8%). Demographically, male drivers and those aged 18–44 were the most frequent users. Notably, 81.3% of respondents recognized the danger of this behavior, yet 42.1% admitted to not reducing speed when using their phone while driving. While no respondents reported causing an accident, 1.6% admitted to causing a collision due to distraction. The study concludes that mobile phone use while driving is a widespread issue in Poland, with self-reported rates significantly higher than those captured by momentary roadside observations. The data suggests that despite high awareness of the associated risks, drivers continue to engage in distracting behaviors, particularly manual manipulation of devices. The findings underscore the need for further research and potentially stricter enforcement or educational interventions to mitigate the substantial safety hazards posed by distracted driving.

Key finding

11.6% of moving Polish drivers and 26.1% of drivers stopped at traffic lights were observed using a mobile phone (mostly handheld manipulation), while 82.9% of 252 surveyed drivers admitted to phone use while driving despite 81.3% rating it dangerous - indicating a large gap between observed momentary prevalence and self-reported overall engagement, concentrated in younger and male drivers.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: Roadside observation: 1867 moving drivers + 203 stopped drivers. Online questionnaire: 252 drivers.

Provenance

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Topics

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• mobile phones
• distraction laws
• temporal

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence, behavioral performance data