世論 What Japan Thinks

Despite a law being passed to forbid the use of mobiles while driving cars or riding bicycles, even the casual observer will see that the law is not being adhered to. To try to quantify how much, Point On Research conducted a survey reported on by japan.internet.com into mobile phone use while on the move.

Demographics

On the 16th of June 2009 800 members of the Point On monitor group who were heavy users of mobile phones completed a private internet-based questionnaire. The sample was exactly 50:50 male and female, 25.0% in their teens, 25.0% in their twenties, 25.0% in their thirties, and 25.0% in their forties.

From my casual observations as a pedestrian, I am not terribly surprised at these numbers, although I am surprised by the amount of people admitting that they are doing it.

One could argue in Q1SQ2 that perhaps many of the phone talkers are using hands-free equipment, I suppose, but sadly it doesn’t distinguish between the two options.

Research results

Q1: Have you ever used a mobile phone while driving a vehicle? (Sample size=800)

Yes (to SQs)	48.3%
No	51.7%

Q1SQ1: How often do you use a mobile phone while driving a vehicle? (Sample size=386)

Frequently	13.0%
Sometimes	25.6%
Only when it cannot be avoided	61.4%

Putting the two together we get:

Q1+Q1SQ1: How often do you use a mobile phone while driving a vehicle? (Sample size=800)

Frequently	6.2%
Sometimes	12.4%
Only when it cannot be avoided	29.6%
Never	51.7%

Q1SQ2: Which functions have you used while driving a vehicle? (Sample size=386)

	Votes	Percentage
Talk	291	75.4%
Email	199	51.6%
Internet functions (search, SNS, etc)	94	24.4%
GPS	68	17.6%
Other	17	4.4%

Q1SQ3: Using which kinds of vehicle have you used a mobile while driving? (Sample size=386)

	Votes	Percentage
Car	300	77.7%
Bicycle	162	42.0%
Motorbike, scooter	16	4.1%
Other	9	2.3%

Q2: What do you think about this revision to the law? (Sample size=800)

Wish it was more strict	25.0%
About right for now, should wait to see how it goes	28.5%
Umbrellas should be allowed	24.1%
Don’t think it will be effective	17.6%
Mobile phones should be allowed	0.6%
Everything should be allowed	4.1%