European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: Due to recent developments in electronic communication technology, many drivers now decide to send and receive text messages while they are driving. This inevitably increases the likelihood of driver distraction, performance issues, and collisions. In order to assess the risk of testing while driving, the study looked at the distractions that affected how well drivers performed. Additionally, it aimed to assess Saudi Arabia's level of awareness, usage, and risk of cell phone use while driving, as well as any necessary safety measures.
Materials and Method: This study was a descriptive, community based cross sectional study conducted in Saudi Arabia from March 2022- May 2022. Before answering the questionnaire, participants provided informed consent. There are no sensitive or private questions in the questionnaire, and their identities are kept strictly confidential. Results: This study included a total of 1452 participants. 652 (44.9%), 376 (25.9%), 248 (17.1%), 96 (6.6%), and 80 (5.5%) of the total participants were aged 21-25, =20, >35, 26-30, and 31-35 years, respectively. In total, 1108 (76.3%) of the 1452 participants said they were texting while driving, while 344 (23.7%) said they were not. Texting while driving was deemed dangerous by 1000 (90.3%) of 1108 participants. 732 (66.1%) participants were aware of current local laws pertaining to texting while driving, while 376 (33.9%) were not. 666 (60.1%) participants agree that the modification of laws making it illegal to text while driving is acceptable. Conclusion: The vast majority of participants were familiar with the rules governing road safety. The new research backs up previous claims that texting affects how well a driver performs in a driving simulator. This is primarily for calling and reading/writing messages, and it is strongly associated with an increased risk of accidents. The current study also demonstrates that the dangers of texting while driving are actually greater for older drivers who are experienced texters. Avoid texting and driving. campaigns to prevent texting while driving. These findings imply the need for ongoing education and public service messages that emphasize the risks associated with this unsafe driving practice while minimizing the perceived benefits of the behavior