Concealed Smartphone Use While Driving Poses Significant Threats to Road Safety

Strategic Insights -

Research from Jiangsu University reveals that concealed smartphone use while driving (CSUWD) is a prevalent and covert form of distracted driving that poses significant threats to road safety. The study, published in Applied Sciences, uses the expanding theory of planned behavior (TPB) to investigate the psychological determinants underlying this behavior. The findings highlight the importance of addressing CSUWD through non-legal interventions, such as public education campaigns and technological interventions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that the traditional TPB variables accounted for 57.1% of intention variance and 45.2% of behavior variance, while extended variables contributed an additional 11.7% to intention variance.
  • The research concluded that perceived behavioral control and intention were significant determinants of subsequent behavior, suggesting that individuals who feel in control of their behavior are more likely to engage in CSUWD.
  • The findings underscore the validity of TPB in predicting CSUWD, informing the design of non-legal interventions to mitigate CSUWD-related distracted driving.
  • The study highlights the need for addressing CSUWD through a comprehensive approach, including public education campaigns, technological interventions, and road awareness campaigns.
  • The research was led by Qi Zhong from the Sustainable Transportation Team at Jiangsu University, and involved a team of researchers from the university, including Rong Han and Jiaye Chen.
  • The study received funding from The Key Research Base of Philosophy And Social Sciences in Sichuan Province, Youth Project of Jiangsu Provincial Social Science Foundation, General Project of Humanities And Social Sciences Research of The Ministry of Education of China, and General Project of Art Studies, National Social Science Foundation of China.

Statistics:

  • 256 respondents assessed the standard TPB constructs, alongside extended constructs of descriptive norms, moral norms, and perceived risks in the first wave.
  • 156 participants reported their actual behavior in the second wave.
  • Hierarchical multiple regression results revealed that the traditional TPB variables accounted for 57.1% of intention variance and 45.2% of behavior variance.
  • The extended variables contributed an additional 11.7% to intention variance.

Sources:

  • A Longitudinal Survey Exploring the Psychological Determinants of Concealed Smartphone Use While Driving: Insights from an Expanding Theory of Planned Behavior. Applied Sciences, 2025,15(19):10582. (Applied Sciences - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci).
  • NewsRx. Data on Applied Sciences Described by Researchers at Jiangsu University (A Longitudinal Survey Exploring the Psychological Determinants of Concealed Smartphone Use While Driving: Insights from an Expanding Theory of Planned Behavior). Health & Medicine Week. October 31, 2025; p 414.