Case Study:
Telford & Wrekin
Employee Education
Overview of the approach
Telford and Wrekin Council Road Safety Department offer workshop education to local employers, with a focus
on mobile phone use by drivers. These workshops are genrally presented to small groups of approximately 20-30
employees, lasting around 20 minutes, and are based upon the transtheoretical model of behaviour change (see
p22). Prior to our involvement, the intervention focused on educating a workforce (many of whom drive as part of
their occupation) about what the law is, when it applies, and the legal consequences of offending. This is followed
by information about the dangers of hands-free use. The course explains the consequences of using a mobile
phone while driving (impacts upon speed, distancing, reaction times, etc.) illustrated by a real-life news story. The
intervention advises individuals to put their phones away while driving and offers information about how individuals
can prevent others from using a mobile phone while driving.
During the workshop attendees are encouraged to explore what type of ‘avoidance strategy’ might work for them.
The audience is encouraged to discuss the workshop and its contents with others, to help spread the message.
A pre- and post- intervention questionnaire is completed by the attendees, and has shown that (as intended)
awareness is increased by attendance. However, awareness does not always lead to changes in behaviour (though
we might hope and expect that it does) so part of the Mobile:Engaged contribution was to consider how the
intervention might facilitate, and measure, changes in actual behaviour amongst the participants.
See page 21 for an explanation
of the transtheoretical moel of
behaviour change.
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