Prevalence and attitude of university students towards mobile phone use while driving in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and attitude of university students towards mobile phone use while driving. The present study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Five hundred and ninety-three participants were recruited for this study. Attitude, consequences and their involvement in various reckless behaviours pertaining to the use of mobile phone while driving were checked by a questionnaire. Overall, the majority of the respondents (90%) use a mobile phone while driving. About half of the participants had experienced consequences regarding texting while driving and had engaged in reckless behaviour. The majority of the students of Faculty of Medicine, Engineering Sciences, Earth Sciences, Administration and Economics and Orientation Classes were more frequently texting while driving (p < .001). The unmarried students were more often texting while driving as compared to married (p < .001). Overall, the majority of the respondents use the mobile phone while driving.

KEYWORDS:

• Texting while driving
• mobile phone
• drivers’ attitude
• university students
• Saudi Arabia

Acknowledgment

This work was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, under grant No. (828-69-D1436). The authors, therefore, acknowledge with thanks, DSR technical and financial support.

Disclosure statement

No interest to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddahr [grant number 828-69-D1436].