Published Paper Details:

The study evaluates the influence of different risk characteristics on perceptions using the psychometric paradigm. In addition, it identifies the effective risk characteristics associated with mobile phone usage while driving. These were followed by dialling and receiving a call from a hand-held mobile and talking with a passenger. In contrast, listening to the radio/music, putting on a seat belt and receiving a call on a hands-free mobile phone were perceived as being the least risky.Factor 1 appeared in relation to high-risk distracting activities such as checking social media, taking photos or recording video with a mobile phone, writing or reading a text message and searching for music using a phone or an MP3. These activities were perceived among respondents as being ‘unfair’ because they are considered uncontrollable activities, illegal, requiring a lot of mental concentration and have a severe consequences. In addition, those engaging in these activities are considering as being unfair because the respondents know about the associated risk yet they voluntarily engage on it.A random sampling method was used and the sample of the study consisted of 422 participants who included students, administrative staff and teaching faculties from the University of Madras, Chennai.