Studies from Monash University in the Area of Risk Management Described (Who’s calling? Social networks and mobile phone use among motorcyclists)

Insurance Weekly News

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Current study results on Risk Management have been published. According to news reporting from Clayton, Australia, by VerticalNews journalists, research stated, "Mobile phone use while riding a motorcycle poses a key safety risk, particularly among younger people who have been found to be more susceptible to distracted driving. While previous research has examined the influence of social networks on mobile phone use while driving a car, no research has explored this association in the context of motorcycle use."

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from Monash University, "Using a survey of university students in Vietnam, this research explores the association between social networks and mobile phone use among motorcyclists and the links this has to reported crashes/falls. Results show that the majority of students are most likely to use a mobile phone to communicate with a friend while riding, either through talking (56.5%) or text messaging (62.0%). However, respondents who frequently talk to a girlfriend/boyfriend or spouse while riding were more likely to experience a crash/fall than those who frequently talk with others while riding (e.g. parent, brother/sister). In addition, those who frequently text message a friend while riding were more likely to experience a crash/fall than those who frequently text message others while riding. The results highlight a clear association between social networks and mobile phone use while riding a motorcycle."

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "Developing a culture of societal norms, where mobile phone use while riding a motorcycle is considered socially unacceptable, will help to reduce the prevalence and ultimate crash risk associated with mobile phone use while riding."

For more information on this research see: Who's calling? Social networks and mobile phone use among motorcyclists. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2017;103():143-147. Accident Analysis and Prevention can be contacted at: Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, England. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Accident Analysis and Prevention - www.journals.elsevier.com/accident-analysis-and-prevention/)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting C. De Gruyter, Monash University, Public Transport Res Grp, Monash Inst Transport Studies, Dept. of Civil Engn, Clayton, Vic, Australia. Additional authors for this research include L.T. Truong and H.T.T. Nguyen.

Keywords for this news article include: Clayton, Australia, Australia and New Zealand, Risk Management, Monash University.