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Question
The Lifesaver (https://lifesaver-app.com/) app is an example of a mobile digital intervention that helps people remain attentive whilst driving. More specifically, it helps people NOT be distracted during that dangerous activity. Please review the app and see for yourself how it works. After doing so, and in less than four pages (OR IN A VIDEO OR AUDIO RECORDING THAT IS NO MORE THAN 3 MINUTES LONG), please thoroughly answer the following questions:
1.Identify and describe how the constructs of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) have been incorporated into the digital intervention.
2.Why do you think the implementation of this theory in creating the app does or does not work?
3.How could the theory constructs be better implemented into this digital intervention?
Please feel free to include images from the site as examples where appropriate.
*Proper citation and attribution are required. If use materials found on the Internet, you must include a direct link for each. All assignments will be checked for originality.
Link on how The Lifesaver works: https://lifesaver-app.com/ (Go to section on FAQs)
An advert on The Lifesaver: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8G-7gKmHuI See if this article can help you get some background info concerning the relationship between TPB and driving while using phone: http://sci-hub.bz/10.1080/15389588.2016.1172703 (feel free to us other sources).
Answer
Cellphone distractions while driving are the major cause of accidents on the roads. Texting, making calls, and reading emails interfere with the attentiveness of a person while driving thus leading them to have delayed braking or fail to notice the road signs or stop lights (NHTSA). In the United States, phone distractions are reported by the National Highway Transport and Safety Authority as the leading cause of accidents. The increased cases of phone use while behind the wheel has been made easy by the advent of smartphones. People stay connected all the time hence has the urge to constantly check their emails and texts. Besides they have various applications that drivers might be tempted to access while on the roads. According to the National Safety Council, 1.6 million cases of crashes are reported every year resulting from cell phone distractions while driving. The persons most affected by the use of phones while driving is teenagers and young adults. As a result of the increased cases of accidents as a result of cell phone distraction, a digital intervention has been made through an application known as “The Lifesaver”. The application has successfully integrated the theory of planned behavior by helping to change driving habits.
The application helps prevent instances of cell phone distractions by remotely locking the phone when a person starts driving. The application also helps the driver’s loved ones to monitor the driver for distracted driving. Therefore, they are able to know when they loved ones reach their destination safely. Besides, through the driver’s portal, the driver can be rewarded for successfully driving without cell phone distractions (Lifesaver).
The theory of planned behavior provides that a person’s actual behavior is influenced by key variables that include subjective norms, normative beliefs, perceived behavioral control, control beliefs, and behavioral intention. Normative beliefs refer to one’s perception on social pressures and beliefs that determine whether they should engage in a behavior or not. It is guided by specific principles (Bazargan-Hejazi 5). For example, the law provides that one should not use their cell phones while driving. Subjective norm refers to how an individual perceives a certain behavior (Bazargan-Hejazi 5). This is in most cases influenced by the judgements made by other people, mostly close friends, spouse, family members, or parents. When the one of the partners feels that a particular behavior is good, the other partners will be motivated to continue behaving in the same way. Perceived behavior control refers to one’s perception of their extent of control or lack of control of a certain behavior(Bazargan-Hejazi 5). Behavioral intention, on the other hand, encompasses a person’s readiness to engage in a behavior (Bazargan-Hejazi 5). Behavioral intention tends to be profoundly affected by one’s subjective norms, perceived behavioral control as well as attitudes.
The Lifesaver application has successfully incorporated the constructs of theory of planned behavior. The application modifies actual behavior by lowering the intention of the driver to use their cell phones by remotely locking the application when the vehicle is in motion. When the applications are locked, the driver will not get any notifications of incoming messages, texts, phone calls, or application activities. Driver’s intention is in most cases heightened by the notifications that they receive while driving. The knowledge of existence of the application on their smartphones lowers the attitude of the driver towards using the phone while driving. The attitude is also lowered as a result of the need to reach their destinations safely. The driver is aware that people close to them are concerned about their safety hence will have little motivation to use the cell phone. The installation of the application on their smartphones creates the feeling that phone use while driving is unsafe hence they are willing to control themselves not to use their phones while the vehicle is on motion. In terms of subjective norms, the driver is able to perceive that the people close to them want them to reach their destination safely. As a result, they will keep on checking on them for any cell phone distractions. When they reach their destination safely, the driver’s loved ones get notifications that the driver has reached safely. The application creates a behavior intention that is geared at fulfilling a behavior that is perceived as correct by the driver’s loved ones. The Lifesaver also has a reward system for drivers who successfully manage to drive without cell phone distractions. The intention of the reward is to create a perceived behavioral control. The drivers would want to earn the rewards frequently while driving, they will, therefore, develop a habit of driving without using their cell phones. Eventually, they will feel they have control of their behavior. Therefore, subjective norms, attitude, and perceived behavioral control combine to influence behavior intention, which is translated to actual behavior.
The application of the theory of planned behavior in this innovative app works because it results in the alteration of behavior intention. The drivers who have an installed application will display different driving habits from those who do not have the application. The application makes the drivers feel that there is somebody who is keeping watch hence will translate their behavior intention to actual behavior. However, the theory construct of attitude could better be implemented through provision of warning systems when the driver attempts to use their phones while in motion.
Works Cited
Bazargan-Hejazi, Shahrzad, et al. “The theory of planned behavior (TPB) and texting while driving behavior in college students.” Traffic Injury prevention 18.1 (2017): 56-62. Print.
LifeSaver. Frequently Asked Questions. Accessed from https://lifesaver-app.com/ [28 May 2017]. Web.
National Safety Council. Cell Phone Distracted Driving. 2017. Accessed from http://www.nsc.org/learn/NSC-Initiatives/Pages/distracted-driving-problem-of-cell-phone-distracted-driving.aspx [28 May 2017]. Web.
NHTSA. Distracted Driving, 2017. Accessed from https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving [28 May 2017]. Web.
