TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - Evaluating distracted driving behaviors in parents of children in suburban and rural areas of Alabama
JO  - Journal of trauma and acute care surgery
A1  - Massey, Kimberly
A1  - Kant, Shruti
A1  - Violano, Pina
A1  - Roney, Linda
A1  - King, William
A1  - Justice, William
A1  - Mcfalls, Kristen
A1  - Monroe, Kathy
SP  - S44
EP  - S47
VL  - 81
IS  - 4 Suppl 1 Forging New Frontiers: The 20th Annual Conference of the Injury Free
N2  - BACKGROUND: Distracted Driving is a dangerous epidemic. Cell phone use, such as talking and texting, is one of the most common driving distractions. Using the model of a previously published study from New Haven Connecticut, we sought to investigate the driving behaviors of parents while transporting their children in Alabama. <br><br>METHODS: A comparison study was conducted of 150 participants from suburban (N=86) and rural (N=64) clinics in Alabama. Participants were recruited to complete a survey regarding their cell phone usage while driving with children. The inclusion criteria were having children less than the age of 18; a valid drivers license; cell phone and English speaking. The survey consisted of 10 questions focusing on parental driving behaviors. Following the survey an educational intervention was provided. A z test proportions was used to compare the responses. <br><br>RESULTS: 90% of the suburban parents (SPs) reported cell phone use while driving their children as compared to 86% of the rural parents (RPs). A significant difference was found between SPs and RPs for cell phone use in speaker mode (Z=3.35: P<0.001: 95%CI 13,45) reading and sending texts while driving (Z=4.1: P<0.001:95% CI 19,51), and surfing the internet (Z=4.9: P<0.001: 95% CI 25,57). There was no statistical significance noted for the following: use of bluetooth device, talking on the cell phone when parked/at red light, texting while parked/at red light. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Cell phone use among parents while transporting children is common in the state of Alabama. Parents living in suburban areas use cell phones in the speaker mode, read and send text messages, and surf the web more often when compared to parents in rural areas. Further research on how to best implement injury prevention interventions should be done to target high-risk areas with distracted driving behaviors.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2163-0755
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000001181
ID  - ref1
ER  -