Texting and driving among drivers in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

Abstract

The use of a mobile phone to text messages while driving has been recognised as a high risk behaviour. The objective of this study was to determine the self-reported texting behaviour of motor vehicle drivers in Trinidad and Tobago and the factors that predict texting by the drivers. This study was part of a larger cross-sectional study on road safety of 1500 motor vehicle drivers. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, Chi square test and multinomial logistic regression analysis. Majority of the drivers (94.5%) reported that texting while driving is either very dangerous or moderately dangerous. However, just over half of the drivers (51.6%) always or sometimes texted messages while driving. The drivers reduced their speed (49.5%), stopped the vehicle (19.8%), drove in the slow lane or road shoulder (14.1%) or made no changes whatsoever (16.6%) when texting and driving. The predictors of the drivers, who were less likely to sometimes text messages when driving, were their age, years they have been driving and their perception of texting and driving as hazardous. The predictors of the drivers, who were less likely to always text messages when driving, were their age, marital status and their perception of texting and driving as hazardous. There is a high level of texting while driving by the drivers in Trinidad and Tobago, despite the fact that a majority of these drivers perceived this practice to be a road safety hazard.

Keywords: Texting, driving, mobile phones, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies.