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Cell Phone Use and Texting While Driving

Data Sources: Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS), 2009 & 2010

Sample: Residents 18 years and over in the KFL&A area.

Released: October 2012

Definitions

All drivers are those who have driven a motor vehicle in the last 12 months.

Non-daily drivers are those who do not drive daily, but have driven in the past 12 months.

Ever talked on a cell phone while driving

Figure A. Ever talked on a cell phone while driving, KFL&A, 2009 & 2010

Table A. Ever talked on a cell phone while driving, KFL&A, 2009 & 2010
Type of Driver	%	95% Confidence Interval
All drivers	32.2%	30.2, 34.1
Daily Drivers	42.1%	39.4, 44.9
Non-daily drivers	24.1%	21.2, 27.3

Interpretation of Figure A

In KFL&A for 2009 & 2010, significantly more daily drivers, 42.1% (39.4-44.9), than non-daily drivers, 24.1% (21.2-27.3), talked on a cell phone while driving.

Talking on a cell phone while driving

Figure B. Talking on a cell phone while driving, KFL&A. 2009 & 2010

Table B. Talking on a cell phone while driving, KFL&A, 2009 & 2010, % (95% Confidence Interval)
Frequency	All Drivers, %	All Drivers, 95% Confidence Interval	Daily Drivers, %	Daily Drivers, 95% Confidence Interval
Every time or most times when you drive	7%	5.9, 8.2	10.5%	8.8, 12.5
Sometimes when you drive	8.4%	7.2, 9.7	11.2%	9.5, 13.2
Seldom when you drive	22.6%	20.7, 24.5	25.8%	23.3, 28.5
Never	62.1%	59.9, 64.3	52.5%	49.5, 55.4

Interpretation for Figure B

In KFL&A for 2009 & 2010, the majority of residents aged 18 and up never talked on a cell phone while driving. 62.1% (59.9-64.3) of all drivers and 52.5% (49.5-55.4) of daily drivers never talked on a cell phone while driving.

Hands-free cell phone

Figure C. Hands-free mode when talking on a cell phone while driving*, KFL&A, 2009 & 2010

*Note: this question was only asked of those who indicated that they have ever talked on a cell phone while driving

Table C. Hands-free mode when talking on a cell phone while driving*, KFL&A, 2009 & 2010, % (95% Confidence Interval)
Frequency	All Drivers, %	All Drivers, 95% Confidence Interval	Daily Drivers, %	Daily Drivers, 95% Confidence Interval
Every time or most times when you drive	33.3%	29.9, 36.9	33.6%	29.6, 37.8
Sometimes when you drive	7.6%	5.8, 9.8	8.7%	6.5, 11.5
Seldom when you drive	7.1%	5.3, 9.5	6%	4.2, 8.4
Never	52%	48.3, 55.7	51.7%	47.4, 56.1

*Note: this question was only asked of those who indicated that they have ever talked on a cell phone while driving

Interpretation for Figure C

In KFL&A for 2009 & 2010, a hands-free mode when talking on a cell phone while driving was used every time or most times by about one third of drivers and never used by approximately half of drivers.

Notes

The RRFSS is a random-digit-dialed telephone survey of adults aged 18 years and older, conducted by the Institute for Social Research at York University, on behalf of KFL&A Public Health.

Confidence intervals explained

Researchers look at the "confidence levels" of percentages being compared to decide if there is a statistically significant difference between percentages. A statistically significant difference means that:

the difference between two percentages is unlikely to have occurred by chance alone, and
there is a true difference or change in the percentages.

In this report, 95% confidence intervals will accompany each percentage in all figures and tables. This interval represents the range in which we are 95% confident the true percentage will fall within. In tables, the 95% confidence intervals will be written with the percentage, followed by the 95% confidence interval range in brackets (e.g., 25% (12.3, 32.4)). In figures, the 95% confidence interval is represented by vertical bars in each bar line.