Modern smart phones and other technological innovations have changed the array of activities that are likely to provide significant distraction to drivers. There has been considerable earlier research aimed at understanding the risk perception of drivers regarding mobile phone use while driving in order to improve communication between decision-makers and drivers so as to develop a better risk management plan. The primary objective of this study is to identify how drivers perceive the risk of a number of new driving distractions and evaluate the influence of different risk characteristics on these perceptions using the psychometric paradigm.
A survey was applied to students, administrative staff and teaching faculties from the University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Risk perceptions of activities such as checking social media, reading, writing, taking photos and searching for music via their mobile phones will be discussed.