Evaluating distracted driving behaviors in parents of children in suburban and rural areas of Alabama

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. 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. 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: PCONCLUSIONS: 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. Language: en