Unsafe driving behaviour and four wheel drive vehicles: observational study

doi:10.1136/bmj.38848.627731.2F

BMJ 2006;333:71 (8 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.38848.627731.2F (published 23 June 2006)

Research

Unsafe driving behaviour and four wheel drive vehicles: observational study

Lesley Walker, research associate¹, Jonathan Williams, medical student¹, Konrad Jamrozik, professor of evidence based health care²

¹ Department of Primary Care and Social Medicine, Imperial College, London, ² School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia

Correspondence to: K Jamrozik k.jamrozik{at}sph.uq.edu.au

Abstract

Objective To assess the level of compliance with the new lawin the United Kingdom mandating penalties for using a hand heldmobile phone while driving, to compare compliance with thislaw with the one on the use of seat belts, and to compare compliancewith these laws between drivers of four wheel drive vehiclesand drivers of normal cars.

Design Observational study with two phases—one withinthe "grace" period, the other starting one week after penaltieswere imposed on drivers using such telephones.

Setting Three busy sites in London.

Participants Drivers of 38 182 normal cars and 2944 four wheeldrive vehicles.

Main outcome measures Proportions of drivers seen to be usinghand held mobile phones and not using seat belts.

Results Drivers of four wheel drive vehicles were more likelythan drivers of other cars to be seen using hand held mobilephones (8.2% v 2.0%) and not complying with the law on seatbelts (19.5% v 15.0%). Levels of non-compliance with both lawswere slightly higher in the penalty phase of observation, andbreaking one law was associated with increased likelihood ofbreaking the other.

Conclusions The level of non-compliance with the law on theuse of hand held mobile phones by drivers in London is high,as is non-compliance with the law on seat belts. Drivers offour wheel drive vehicles were four times more likely than driversof other cars to be seen using hand held mobile phones and slightlymore likely not to comply with the law on seat belts.

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Rapid Responses:

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Larger study required?: Niel J.P. Fagan
bmj.com, 24 Jun 2006 [Full text]
Non-compliance in 4WD Vehicles: Martin J Griffies
bmj.com, 24 Jun 2006 [Full text]
4wd driver behaviour: false security; handsfree phoning as dangerous as hand held: Cees Wildervanck
bmj.com, 24 Jun 2006 [Full text]
A bad decision from an absurd person: Phillip J. Colquitt
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A logical hole: John Adams
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Observational studies depend on observational quality: Andrew J Ashworth
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Unsafe Driving behaviour : personality factors: Tim O Parrott
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Risk taking behaviors of SUV drivers: Ediriweera Desapriya, et al.
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Potential study flaws fuelling media hype: Keith Greenfield
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Gender/recounting possible flaws?: Alastair J Macdonald
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No strong support for risk compensation: Graeme D Ruxton
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Some poor conclusions from interesting data: Jon G Wood
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Unsafe driving behaviour: Roger D Mount
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