This paper analysis published results of the research into the connection between mobile phone use while driving and traffic safety. Ever since the introduction of the first mobile phones, the authors have been examining the risks associated with its use in traffic, namely: prevalence or frequency of mobile phone use while driving, characteristics of drivers who make more frequent use of mobile phones, the connection between mobile phone use while driving and a car crash risk, a link between mobile phone use while driving and perception of risk, effects on driving performance of using various modes of mobile phones while driving (“hands-free” or “hand-held”), psychological factors influencing driver's decision to use a mobile phone while driving, etc. It is important to point out that the results of some studies indicate that using a hands-free mobile phone while driving does not provide greater safety as compared to the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving. Generally speaking, younger male drivers tend to use mobile phones more often while driving than women and older males. This paper analyses the results of studies which were published in 60 papers from 1994 to 2013. The analysis of the papers selected for research confirms detrimental effects of mobile phone use while driving. Also, four phases in the process of understanding the issue of mobile phone use impacts while driving have been established or identified. The first phase gives the analysis of the prevalence or frequency of mobile phone use while driving. The second phase identifies the characteristics of drivers who tend to use mobile phones more frequently while driving. The third phase concerns research into impacts of using different modes of mobile phones while driving on driving performance (“hands-free” or “hand-held”). Finally, the fourth phase deals with research into risks of mobile phone use while driving (“hands-free” or “hand-held”). The importance of this paper is reflected in that it can help traffic safety policy makers, on the basis of better understanding of the issue of mobile phone use impact while driving, to develop effective strategies aimed at reducing the extent of mobile phone use while driving.

Mobile phone use while driving-literary review

Structural color materials, which use nano- or microstructures to reflect specific wavelengths of ambient white light, have drawn much attention owing to their wide applications ranging from optoelectronics, coatings, to energy-efficient reflective displays. Although various structural color materials based on specular or diffuse reflection have been demonstrated, neither efficient retroreflective structural colors nor iridescent and non-iridescent colors to different observers simultaneously were reported by existing artificial or natural structural color materials. Here, we show that by partially embedding a monolayer of polymer microspheres on the sticky side of a transparent tape, the spontaneously formed interferometric structure on the surface of air-cushioned microspheres can lead to unique structural colors that remain non-iridescent under coaxial illumination and viewing conditions, but appear iridescent under noncoaxial illumination and viewing conditions. Our findings demonstrate a smart, energy-efficient, and tunable retroreflective structural color material that is especially suitable for nighttime traffic safety and advertisement display applications.

Iridescence-controlled and flexibly tunable retroreflective structural color film for smart displays.

Dengue fever, an arbovirus disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, has recently spread rapidly, especially in the tropical countries of the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions. It is endemic in Malaysia, with an annual average of 37,937 reported dengue cases from 2007 to 2012. This study measured the overall economic impact of dengue in Malaysia, and estimated the costs of dengue prevention. In 2010, Malaysia spent US$73.5 million or 0.03% of the country's GDP on its National Dengue Vector Control Program. This spending represented US$1,591 per reported dengue case and US$2.68 per capita population. Most (92.2%) of this spending occurred in districts, primarily for fogging. A previous paper estimated the annual cost of dengue illness in the country at US$102.2 million. Thus, the inclusion of preventive activities increases the substantial estimated cost of dengue to US$175.7 million, or 72% above illness costs alone. If innovative technologies for dengue vector control prove efficacious, and a dengue vaccine was introduced, substantial existing spending could be rechanneled to fund them.

/pdf/cost-of-dengue-vector-control-activities-in-malaysia-51grpnnkzi.pdf

Cost of Dengue Vector Control Activities in Malaysia.

Smart phone demand: An empirical study on the relationships between phone handset, Internet access and mobile services

There is no doubt that cell phone use while driving can lead to a higher probability of driver error, which increases the likelihood of more crashes. In Qatar, the high rate of cell phone use while driving among young drivers is a major traffic safety concern. The objectives of this study are to identify the factors affecting this hazardous behavior and to suggest practical solutions to deter this specific category of drivers from driving while distracted. The study combined stated and revealed preference questions to design a detailed survey questionnaire. Data were collected from a sample of 403 young drivers. The structural equation modeling results showed that, for the revealed preference, conducting public campaigns may provide a suitable solution to reduce cell phone usage while driving. On the other hand, increasing enforcement did not seem to have a significant effect on reducing this type of behavior. For the stated preference, young drivers who had a crash history resulting from cell phone usage tend to use their cell phones less than those who did not have a cell phone related crash. Furthermore, the driving experience and safe duration of distraction had a significant effect on the cell phone usage. Based on the results, it is recommended to provide road safety campaigns to educate young drivers on the risk associated with such behavior. This information is valuable to legislators and traffic safety experts dealing with this problem in Qatar and other countries in the region.

Characteristics and mitigation strategies for cell phone use while driving among young drivers in Qatar

Children, youth and road environment: road traffic accident

Mobile Phone Usage Behaviour while Driving among Educated Young Adults in the Urban University

Driving is a complex process which involves eye-hand-foot coordination. Failure to coordinate will contribute to road traffic accidents (RTA). Young drivers usually represent the highest number of individuals involved in the accident cases. Thus, three common ergonomics principle were examined in this study: human-machine-environment. Issues such as land use, vehicle design and the importance of law enforcement are briefly discussed. Further research is needed to improve driver’s behavior and responses while driving. Strict enforcement on legislation and early education on road safety are required. It is also suggested that developing country should refer to the preventive model used in developed countries for reference.
Keywords: Accident, Design, Road users
eISSN 2514-751X © 2017 The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.

https://aje-bs.e-iph.co.uk/index.php/ajE-Bs/article/download/206/174

Mohd Pozi Mohd Tahir

Papers

Children, youth and road environment: road traffic accident

Mobile Phone Usage Behaviour while Driving among Educated Young Adults in the Urban University

Children, Youth and Road Environment: Road traffic accident

Behaviour Response among Health Sciences Students towards H1N1 Pandemic

Aedes Mosquitoes Resistance in Urban Community Setting