A Look in the (Driver’s) Mirror: Use of Portable Electronic Devices While Driving by the Driver Safety Research Community

As the frequency and diversity of use of portable electronic devices by drivers has increased, so have the roadway safety concerns associated with such multitasking. It has been argued that the driving public needs to be better informed about the risks of multitasking, and if they were so informed, people would restrict such practices. Yet various surveys show that in general the public seems to recognize that the use of portable electronic devices while driving does impose significant risk. This study reports the results of a survey of highway and vehicle safety professionals, a group highly informed about the problem and often engaged in efforts on this very issue. It would be instructive to see how this group behaves in terms of its own portable electronic device use while driving. An internet survey was distributed to members of two prominent professional society technical groups in driver safety. The survey revealed substantial cell phone use while driving, moderate text messaging, and little engagement in such activities as social networking, internet browsing, or e-book reading. Members of this expert community actively provided guidance about portable electronic device use while driving to others, including children and teens, family, and friends.