Validation of Modified Driver Behavior Questionnaire Considering Mobile Phone Usage While Driving

Although the existing Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ) covers a wide range of drivers' aberrant behaviors, advances in technology have made some questions out of date. These advancements could lead to human errors while driving, and therefore some items of DBQ need to be updated to reflect the influence of technology on driving behavior such as mobile phone usage while driving. This study aims to modify the widely used DBQ by including "mobile phone usage while driving" items and validate it in Iranian context. The impact of demographic items on each factor scale is also investigated. A shortened DBQ that include drivers' aberrant behaviors and additional questions on mobile phone usage while driving was developed. A total of 298 drivers (168 males and 130 females) between the ages of 18 and 60 participated in this study. Results showed that the mean score of two mobile phone usage items is significantly correlated with violation behaviors. Besides, younger drivers, male drivers, and drivers who were involved in an accident in the past three years behave more aberrant. Statistical analysis shows that drivers who use their mobile phones while driving are more likely to be involved in a traffic crash. Moreover, mobile phone usage while driving decreases significantly by age and males use their mobile phones more than females while driving.