Distracted driving is a traffic safety issue worldwide. While the development of comprehensive information and road rules about distracted driving by governments is essential to address the issue, there is evidence showing that existing road rules and information may not always deter drivers from engaging in distractions while driving. Therefore, this study explored drivers’ views on government information and road rules concerning distracted driving, aiming to understand how these rules and information have shaped drivers’ perceptions and behaviour towards distractions. Interviews (n = 35) were conducted with Queensland drivers aged between 21 and 70 years and a thematic analysis was used to explore the data. Based on the findings, government information on distracted driving was believed by participants to be incomprehensive, not effectively communicated, and focused on mobile phone use. Road rules and enforcement measures often prioritise mobile phone use and contain grey areas that may confuse drivers about legal and illegal distractions. The results showed that the perceived risk of distractions varies among drivers, with some distractions not being considered as risky as other behaviours (e.g., using a smartwatch). Findings showed that government practices are believed to influence drivers’ perceptions and behaviour about distracted driving, encouraging an inaccurate perception about driver safety and with the potential to prompt drivers to engage with distracting behaviours without knowledge nor consideration of the risks. The results of this study offer important insights for policymakers in developing and disseminating comprehensive information and road rules for distracted driving.

Distracted driving poses one of the most significant risks to road safety. The current study aims to provide a deeper understanding of the factors affecting the severity of distracted driving crashes in New York City and to explore the temporal stability in the effects of different variables on crash outcomes in 2016 to 2019 period by adopting a post-crash perspective. The police-reported data of single-vehicle distraction-related crashes of private cars on urban roads of New York City was used for this study. Three injury categories were considered: no injury, minor injury, and severe injury. To investigate crash severities and identify unobserved heterogeneities, a random parameters logit model was conducted. The results revealed that a wide variety of variables including driver traits, vehicle and temporal characteristics, and crash attributes were found to be significant in explaining distracted-related crash severities. Furthermore, a series of likelihood ratio tests were conducted to identify the temporal shifts of estimated variables during the period. The results of the temporal analysis showed that the estimated variables of the random parameters model were unstable during the 4-year period, which may be the result of shifting trends such as the development of in-vehicle technologies, and new sources of distraction. However, the complex nature of distracted-related crashes and changes in driver behavior should be considered for further interpretation. This research provides a set of policy implications for planners and policymakers, aiming at facing factors contributing to a higher level of injury severity in distracted driving crashes. This includes providing targeted information on distracted driving to high-risk groups, such as younger drivers, and also combining education, awareness programs, higher penalties, and intense patrolling. Engineering measures such as enhanced roadside illumination and audible edge lines can be effective, especially in reducing late-night distracted driving crashes.

Empirical data demonstrates that distracted driving is a leading cause of crashes even in countries with sophisticated road safety systems. As such, a paradigm shift is needed to prevent driver distraction. This study aims to contribute to this paradigm shift by critically investigating the official distraction-related information and road rules for drivers in Australia, while gaining an understanding of how distraction is specifically addressed in these materials. Using a multistage content analysis, it was identified that official information focuses on three major categories including overview of distraction, sources of distraction, and prevention of distraction. The findings suggested ways that State Governments could improve the available information and road rules, as some of these materials were insufficient or ambiguous. For instance, several sources of distraction, particularly internal distractions (e.g., medical impairments) and external distractions (e.g., advertisement billboards) have been overlooked or received limited attention in the information. Additionally, the information does not address the specific needs of certain road users, such as young and inexperienced drivers. Further, the guidelines for safe interaction with certain in-vehicle distractions such as smartwatches, advanced driving assistance systems, and pets are insufficient or inconsistent across jurisdictions. The rules concerning some distraction types are ambiguous and contain uncertainties. Furthermore, general rules involving distracted driving such as those related to careless driving were found to lack specificity. The results of this investigation provide guidance for policymakers worldwide in developing road rules for distracted driving and the need to change the approach to a more holistic management of distractions.