‘Why aren’t you using Bluetooth?!’ Officer understanding of the dangers of handheld and handsfree mobile phone-use by drivers

Abstract

Phone-use by drivers contributes to increasing numbers of collisions and deaths worldwide. Despite clear evidence for the equal dangers of handsfree phone-use, most jurisdictions only prohibit handheld use. This mixed-methods study provides an in-depth analysis of police officer attitudes and experiences in dealing with phone-using drivers. 411 officers completed a survey and interviews on their interactions with mobile phone offenders and their understanding of the dangers of handsfree phone-use. Three key themes emerged: (1) officers focused on handheld phone-use predominantly, associating the dangers with visual and manual distraction, while advising handsfree as a legal alternative; (2) officers use discretion in their considerations for prosecution, dependent on the context of phone-use and attributes of the offender; (3) officers wish to appear fair, and are keen for a positive relationship with the public, which impacts how they negotiate encounters with offenders. Results highlight the need for targeted education for officers on the dangers of handsfree phone-use, specific guidance on negotiating officer-offender interactions, and a change in practice to ensure handsfree phone use is not routinely recommended to offenders as an alternative to handheld use.