Some drivers engage in secondary activities that contribute to decreased traffic safety. User Experience can inform and help people make safer and more conscious choices in traffic. Previous research on self-reported mobile phone use shows that a ban on mobile phone use while driving has not led people to completely cease the behavior. The study investigated whether a driver monitoring system contributes to safer driving when different gender drivers are distracted by mobile phones and whether the system affected their sense of safety. Is there a difference between male and female drivers' behavior and perception of the driver monitoring system? This was investigated using an experimental mixed-method design with a simulator, surveys, and an interview.
The experiment tested three different monitoring situations: group A was a control group without mobile or driver monitoring system, group B received distracting SMS messages, and group C received distracting SMS messages and were warned by the driver monitoring system. The total gender differences in the traffic offenses revealed significantly lower traffic offenses for women. This is also in relation to previous research publications.