The use of hand-held phones/cellular phones while driving is a known risk factor for road traffic accidents. In Iran, the use of mobile phones has increased dramatically in recent years. However, little research has been done to determine the prevalence of mobile phone use while driving in Iran. The authors conducted an observational, cross-sectional study to document patterns of mobile phone use among drivers of passenger vehicles, including cars, mini-vans, and utility vehicles in the streets of Kerman, a city in the south-east of Iran, in the fall of 2009. Direct observational study is a less biased method of assessing exposure to cellular phone use among passenger car drivers in comparison to self-report data and police accident reports. (Author/publisher)
Abstract