Moving versus stopped motor vehicle screen use: Engagement, perceptions, and correlates

Claire Kinney, Wendy M. Rote, Rachael De Lorenzo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Research on texting while driving routinely does not distinguish between drivers’ moving (while actively driving) and stopped (e.g., while at a red light) screen use behavior, but these behaviors conceptually differ in risk. The purpose of this study was to analyze differences in the prevalence, evaluations, and correlates of moving versus stopped motor vehicle screen use (MVSU). Participants were 236 adults ( M age = 35.36; 71% female) representing 31 U.S. states. Results indicate that individuals perceive and evaluate moving and stopped motor vehicle screen use (MVSU) differently, as well as engage in these behaviors at different rates. Compared to moving MVSU, participants engaged in stopped MVSU more frequently, felt more efficacious and less guilty about such behavior, and evaluated it as less risky, more acceptable, and as less reflective of moral values. Although levels of stopped versus moving MVSU were strongly correlated, larger differences in evaluations of stopped versus moving MVSU were associated with weaker correlations between engaging in the two MVSU behaviors. Participant age, race, and gender also moderated associations between stopped and moving MVSU.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalDefault journal
StatePublished - Jan 1 2019

Keywords

  • Texting while driving, Driving, Distracted driving, Evaluations, Texting

Disciplines

  • Psychology

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