Annals of African Medicine Annals of African Medicine Society ISSN: 1596-3519 Vol. 5, Num. 4, 2006, pp. 166–169

Annals of African Medicine, Vol. 5, No. 4, 2006, pp. 166 –169

Awareness of Hazards and Use of GSM Mobile Phone among Non-Commercial Drivers in Ilorin, Nigeria

 ¹ T. M. Akande and ² M. S. Ajao

¹Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, and ²Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Reprint requests to: Dr. T. M. Akande, ¹Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Ilorin, P. M. B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria. E-mail: akandetm@yahoo.com

Code Number: am06039

Abstract

Background:Driver distractions have been suggested as a contributor to traffic accidents. Results indicate that the accident risk can increase when a driver is using the mobile telephone in a car. This study was conducted to determine use of mobile phone by non-commercial drivers and their awareness and attitude to the related risks.
Method:This is a descriptive survey. Two-hundred and sixty-seven randomly selected non-commercial drivers were interviewed using structured questionnaires.
Results:Most respondents 240(90.6%) are aware that GSM use while driving increase risk of road traffic accident (RTA). A high proportion of respondents 205 (72.7%) are aware of devices that reduce hazards from mobile phones. Less than a third (27.5%) admits using mobile phone while driving, only 92(37.7%) use hand free cord while driving. Significantly higher proportion of males than females use GSM phones while driving (p < 0.05). But no significant sex difference among those who put off their phones while driving or use hand free cord while driving (p > 0.05).
Conclusion:Most studies have shown that the relative risk of all accidents and of accidents with injuries is higher for users of cell phones than for non-users. There is thus an urgent need to make users aware of the dangers and for appropriate legislation and enforcement of the legislation.

Key words: mobile phone, hazards, use, non-commercial drivers

Résumé

Introduction : On a déjè cité des distractions qui font face aux chauffeurs comme responsable pour des accidents de la  circulation routière.  Des résultats ont montré que le danger des accidents pourrait augmenter quand un chauffeur utilise un radiotéléphone dans une voiture.  Cette étude a été effectuée afin de décider l’utilisation du radiotéléphone par des chauffeurs non-commercials et leur prise de conscience et comportement par rapport aux dangers connexes.
Méthodes : Il s’agit d’une étude descriptive.  Deux cents soixante sept chauffeurs non-commercials sélectionnés au hasard ont été interviewés à travers l’utilisation des questionnaires structurés.
Résultats : La grande majorité de personnes sondées 240 soit 90,6% ont conscience de l’utilisation du GSM pendant que l’on conduit, contribue au danger des accidents de la circulation routière. (RTA) La plupart de personnes sondées 205, soit 72,7% ont conscience des procédés qui peuvent reduire les dangers provoqués par radiotéléphones.  Moins du tiers soit 27,5% sont d’accord qu’ils utilisent radiotéléphone pendent qu’ils  conduissent, seulement 92 soit 37,7% utilise la grosse ficelle sans main pendant qu’ils conduissent.  Une grande partie du sexe masculin plus que du sexe féminin utilisent GSM radiotéléphones pendant qu’ils conduissent (p < 0,05).   Mais aucune différence du sexe parmi ceux qui coupent leur radiotéléphones pendant qu’ils conduissent ou utilisent la grosse ficelle sans main.pendant qu’ils conduissent (p >0,05)
Conclusion : Beaucoup d’études avaient montré que des  dangers de tous les accidents et des accidents avec des blessures sont élevés chez des utilisateurs des radiotéléphone plus que chez des non-utilisatures.  Il y a donc un besoin urgent pour que des utilisateurs puisse avoir la conscience des dangers et pour créer des législations et mettre en vigueur la législation.

Mot-clés : Radiotéléphone, dangers, utilisation, des chauffeurs non-commercials

Introduction

Motor-vehicle accidents are one of the major causes of injury in most motorized countries. Driver distractions have been suggested as a contributor to traffic accidents. ¹ Numerous governments have introduced regulations governing the use of mobile (cellular) telephones while driving. ^{2, 3} Studies have examined possible effects of concurrent mobile phone use on driving performance. Although interference is often apparent, determining the implications of such findings for 'real world' driving is problematic. ⁴ It was found that a mobile telephone task had a negative effect upon the drivers' choice reaction time; results indicate that the accident risk can increase when a driver is using the mobile telephone in a car. ^{5, 6}

This study was conducted among non-commercial drivers to determine their use of mobile phone while driving.

Materials and Methods

The descriptive survey was conducted among non-commercial drivers who possess mobile phones in Ilorin, Nigeria in 2003. Ilorin is the administrative capital of Kwara State, Nigeria. GSM mobile phone was introduced into Nigeria in 2001 but its use in Ilorin began in 2003 when it had network coverage. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect information from 267 randomly selected drivers on their demographic characteristics, awareness and attitude towards hazards related to use of mobile phones while driving and also their use of mobile phone while driving.

Simple random sampling was used in selecting respondents for the interview. Data collected from the questionnaire was entered and analyzed using the Epi-info version 6.04 software. Frequency tables and cross-tabulation was done and p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Two hundred and sixty seven non-commercial drivers were interviewed, 168(62.9%) of them were males and 99(37.1%) were females. The mean age of respondents is 33.0 ± 10.97 yrs, most of them (88.0%) had tertiary education, 47.1% were married, 44.1% were single. 255(95.5%) possess mobile GSM phone. The mean duration of possession of mobile phone among the respondents is 11.6 ± 7.53 months. Over two-third (69.2%) possess mobile phone for at least 7 months before the interview.

Most respondents 240 (90.6%) are aware that GSM use while driving increase risk of road traffic accident (RTA), 156 (59.8%) are aware it increase risk of brain tumor, and 62.7% were aware of it increasing risk of ear deafness (Table 1). Less than a third (27.5%) admits using mobile phone while driving (Table 2).

A high proportion of respondents 205 (72.7%) are aware of devices that reduce hazards from mobile phones. Among them 196 (95.6%) were able to mention a device for reducing hazard. The most mentioned device is Hand-free device (53.1%), 66 (33.7%) were aware of rays protector and 17 (8.7%) mentioned casing. More than half of the respondents 148(58.0%) do not know about radiation protective device and 59(55.1%) of those who are aware of this device possess it. The most reported source of awareness of hazards of GSM is mass media, others include friends (25.0%), journals (19.6%) and none mentioned manufacturer’s instructions.

Respondents’ who consider themselves prone to the hazards of GSM phones were 74(27.7%), about a third (32.6%) don’t consider their self prone and 106(39.7%) were not sure. The hazards respondents felt they are prone to are; deafness (28.6%), brain tumors (22.9%), radiation (21.4%) and road accidents (17.1%). One hundred and forty (59.6%) felt they can do something to reduce the hazard and 96(40.7%) think they can not do anything to reduce the hazard.

More than half of the respondents 152(59.1%) had ever switched off their mobile phone while driving. Among them only 28(18.5%) always switch off their phones, 23.2% switch off frequently and 43(28.5%) switch off occasionally. Of the 242 who possess mobile phones 130 (53.7%) possess hand free cord and only 113(44.1%) ever used hand free cord and only 92(37.7%) use hand free cord while driving.

Table 1: Awareness of hazards related to use of mobile phones

RTA: Road traffic accident
Figures in parenthesis are percentages

Significantly higher proportion of respondents aged at least 30 years use GSM phone while driving (p < 0.05). Significantly higher proportion of respondents who are not aware of hazard of RTA related to use of GSM phones use mobile phones while driving (Table 3).

Significantly higher proportion of males than females use GSM phones while driving (p < 0.05). But no significant sex difference among those who put off their phones while driving or use hand free cord while driving (p > 0.05) (Table 4).

Table 2: Use of mobile phone while driving

Figures in parenthesis are percentages

Table 3: Influence of Age and awareness on use of mobile phone use while driving

RTA: Road traffic accident

Table 4: Influence of sex on use of mobile phone while driving

Discussion

Awareness of the respondents on hazards related to use of mobile phone was high, even though awareness on hazard related to road accidents was the highest; there was also fairly good awareness on hazards related to radiation and deafness. While more than half were aware of hand-free-device less than half were aware of radiation protective devices. The source of information on these hazards included the mass media, friends and journals but none got information on hazards of mobile phone use from manufacturers’ instructions. It is very important for manufacturers’ of such widely used electronic device to provide information on potential hazards to its users so that they can take appropriate steps to prevent these hazards.

In light of the rapidly increasing development of the cell phone market, the use of such equipment while driving raises the question of whether it is associated with an increased accident risk. ⁶ Several studies have shown increased risk of accident with use of mobile phones while driving as it has been shown to increase reaction time while driving. ^7-10 The relative risk of all accidents and of accidents with injuries is higher for users of cell phones than for non-users. ⁶

About a quarter of respondents in this study admit using mobile phones while driving. This is far higher than findings of in Melbourne, Australia and 3.3% in city of Lleida, Spain. ^{11, 12} which were from observational studies. Observational studies in this area may however give a more accurate prevalence of mobile phone use while driving. More men than women in this study use mobile phones while driving similar to findings by Taylor  et al and Astrain et al. ^11,12 Unlike the findings of White et al that nearly half of all drivers in the sample with a mobile phone reported having used it while driving in this study the proportion of users is lower. The probability of having an accident was perceived to be less for self than for others was found in this study similar to previous studies indicating an optimistic bias. ^{1, 13}

Less than 20.0% of the respondents said they always switch off their phones while driving and 37.7% use hand free-cord while driving. The risk of accidents resulting from distractions from cell phones is therefore high among these drivers. The use of cellular telephones in motor vehicles is associated with a quadrupling of the risk of a collision during the brief time interval involving a call. Decisions about regulation of such telephones, however, need to take into account the benefits of the technology and the role of individual responsibility. ¹⁴

There is thus an urgent need to make users aware of the danger. There should be enforced legislation to avoid use of mobile phones while driving.

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