Nomophobia and Deterrence: how smartphones impact compliance and younger drivers

This interdisciplinary PhD thesis consists of five mixed-methods manuscripts exploring smartphone use in the Australian state of Victoria, specifically nomophobia (the fear of being without a mobile phone) and its relationship with dependent, prohibited, and dangerous use. Additionally, focusing on illegal use while driving, the effectiveness of formal (certainty of apprehension, severity of punishment, swiftness of fine) and informal (internal loss, social loss, physical loss) deterrence mechanisms are explored. This thesis is the first within road safety to draw upon the sociological concepts of an accelerated, liquid, and risk suffused society to demonstrate their unique impact on distracted driving.