Comparing Motives Across Generations that Cause People to Text and Drive

In a society that favors technology, the temptation and ability to be in constant contact with others presents the potential for unfavorable driving outcomes. Instant messaging, more commonly known as text messaging, is a convenient way to communicate. Text based communication requires physical, cognitive, and visual attention which results in distraction for drivers (Saqer, Visser, Strohl, & Parasuraman, 2012). Studies have looked specifically at teens and young adults who text message and drive specifically. No research was found comparing the reasons why people across generations engage in texting while driving. To help bring awareness and educate drivers, more information is needed. The purpose of this study was to compare behaviors that motivate drivers from generations Boomer II, X, Y, and Z to text message while driving. The study was a non-experimental comparative cross-sectional study. The information will be shared with healthcare practitioners to allow them to provide individualized health promotion education. Results of the research revealed that there is a statistically significant difference in the motivations for text messaging and driving between the Boomer II and Z generation.