Abstract:
Distracted driving behavior is a major contributing factor to road accidents. To understand
its impact in Pakistan, a case study was conducted to examine how different road types and
conditions, trip time, law enforcement, and passenger type influence distracted driving, and
this these five were main latent constructs in the analysis. This research also looked into
the mediating effect of driving experience. Around 590 responses were gathered through
online and face-to-face surveys, and 501 of them were considered for further analysis. The
most of the respondents were males aged between 18-30 (40%) and 30-50 (27%). After
conducting preliminary data testing, including data normality checks and descriptive
analysis, the study employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS SEM) to test the hypotheses. The results revealed that all the factors had varying degrees
of positive influence on distracted driving behavior. Trip timing had the most significant
effect (0.196), indicating that drivers were more distracted during the daytime, possibly
due to the ease of driving, allowing them to engage in non-driving activities. Road
conditions (0.194), age (0.168), and law enforcement (0.161) also had significant effects
on distracted driving behavior. Surprisingly, the presence of passengers did not
significantly impact distracted driving in this study, contrary to some prior research
findings. Older drivers exhibited more distracted behavior. Gender and education had no
direct impact, but they showed significant indirect effects through driving experience,
suggesting mediation. These results underscore the importance of implementing
appropriate interventions involving various stakeholders (such as policymakers, police,
mental health experts, advocates, etc.) to raise awareness, change behaviors, and increase
risk perception related to distracted driving behavior and its dangers. Such interventions
can play a crucial role in curbing distracted driving incidents and improving road safety.
