Lazuras, Lambros, Poulter, Damian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2521-5959, Ypsilanti, Antonia, Hawkins, Oliver and Rowe, Richard (2026) Mobile phone use while driving: the role of driving self-regulation. Transportation Research Part F: Psychology and Behaviour, 123:103834. ISSN 1369-8478 (Print), 1873-5517 (Online) (doi:10.1016/j.trf.2026.103834)

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Abstract

Driving-specific self-regulation has been associated with risky driving behaviour. The present research examined, for the first time, the relationship of driving-specific self-regulation with mobile phone use while driving across two survey-based studies in the United Kingdom. Study 1 (N = 296) showed that driving-specific self-regulation was significantly associated with both texting and calling while driving, over and above the effects of other predictors. Domain-general self-regulation was indirectly associated with texting while driving, through driving-specific self-regulation. Study 2 (N = 309) showed that driving-specific self-regulation was negatively associated with mind wandering while driving. Mind wandering was positively related to both calling and texting while driving, but this relationship was moderated by driving-specific self-regulation. The association of mind wandering and texting was weaker for higher levels of driving-specific self-regulation (B = −0.127, p = .019). Driving-specific self-regulation presents a theoretically relevant construct for the study of behaviours that contribute to distracted driving, such as mobile phone use.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	mobile phone use, driving, self-regulation, mind wandering.
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Thinking and Learning Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Last Modified:	12 Oct 2026 13:09
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/54679

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