Invitation
You are being invited to consider taking part in the final phase of the 'Mobile:Engaged' research project which explored innovations aimed at reducing mobile phone use by drivers.

This final stage of the project is a survey in which we ask you to tell us about your experiences of working with Mobile:Engaged, whether that was through using the compendium we produced, taking part in a knowledge exchange consultation, speaking to us about your work or any other type of engagement.
 
Before you decide whether or not you wish to take part, it is important for you to understand why this research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read this information carefully. You can ask us if there is anything that is unclear or if you would like more information, and our contact details are at the bottom of this invitation.

 
Aims of the Research
The issue of mobile device use by drivers is one of the biggest challenges facing road safety at the present time. Although the use of handheld devices has been illegal since 2003, the pace of technological development, as well its widespread availability, is fast outstripping both the ability of the law to keep pace with the actual nature of the problem, and the ability of the road safety community to offer an effective response. There is a wealth of exciting and innovative activity in this area amongst practitioners across the road safety community, but it is generally the work of enthusiastic individuals often working in isolation and often without funding. Expertise is therefore contained in silos and institutional memory is hard to sustain leading to the cessation of good work when its champion is moved on to other projects or leaves the field.
 
The Mobile:Engaged project's aims were to  collate, enhance, and share approaches from around the UK and beyond that seek to address the issue of mobile phone use whilst driving (both legal hands-free and illegal hand-held use). We collected information on projects and innovations, met with a range of innovators from the public and private sector, and produced a compendium of ideas and projects utilizing information collected in this project that can be used as a resource for future activity.  

Why have I been invited?
You have been invited to take part because you previously took part in the project, or requested a copy of the compendium. We want to conduct the research so that we can develop and improve our approach to research and engagement in the future. 

Do I have to take part?
You are free to decide whether you wish to take part or not.  If you do decide to take part your completion of the survey will be taken as your consent to providing the information and being contacted by the research team about your submission. You are free to withdraw from this study at any time and without giving reasons. You can stop completing the survey at any point and simply leave the site.

What will happen if I take part?
If you agree to take part, you will be invited to proceed to the survey element of the project via a link. You will be asked to explain a little about the project you are involved in, or your reason for being interested in our work so that we can understand the type of project or role that you are telling us about. This will help us to work out which projects or individuals gained most, and which found it less useful, for example.

What are the benefits (if any) of taking part?
We hope that the information we obtain will help us to help the road safety community in future by improving the engagement that we offer and the methods through which we engage with practitioners and policy makers. We also hope that you will find it interesting and useful to reflect on the way in which you have engaged, or could engage with, academic research. 

What are the risks (if any) of taking part?
We do intend to use quotes from the answers we receive from this survey to illustrate our arguments and to clarify our points in future presentations and academic work, but we will not quote any material that is potentially damaging to any of the individuals, projects or organisations involved. Whilst we cannot anonymise all data provided (as some projects are unique in their approach), we will only provide identifying information when the consequences of doing so are neutral or positive for those involved. 

How will information about me be used?
The data you supply may subsequently be used in presentations or publications on this project and on the process of knowledge exchange and academic/practitioner engagement. As stated previously, we will not publish information you provide that may reflect badly on you or your organisation, though we may use that to inform our own reflections on the research and to improve our future research design.

Who will have access to information about me?
The data you supply will, in the first instance, only be accessed by the research team, who will be responsible for analysing it. Future publications and presentation will be in the public domain - that is they will be accessible to anyone. 
 
The data will be stored in line with the sponsor’s guidelines (the Road Safety Trust) and the data will be retained by the principal investigator for at least five years, before being disposed of securely. This does not relate to the data that is published in the compendium or any subsequent research papers. 

We do however have to work within the confines of current legislation over such matters as privacy and confidentiality, data protection and human rights and so offers of confidentiality may sometimes be overridden by law. For example in circumstances whereby we are concerned over any actual or potential harm to yourself or others we must pass this information to the relevant authorities.
 

Who is funding the research?
The research is being funded by the Road Safety Trust - an independent charitable trust dedicated to supporting projects and research aimed at making the UK roads safer for all road users.

Contact for further information
If you would like to contact the research team about the research, please email us:

Helen Wells: h.m.wells@keele.ac.uk

What if there is a problem?
If you have a concern about any aspect of this study, you may wish to speak to the researcher(s) who will do their best to answer your questions.  You should contact Dr Helen Wells on h.m.wells@keele.ac.uk or 01782 733748.  
 
If you remain unhappy about the research and/or wish to raise a complaint about any aspect of the way that you have been approached or treated during the course of the study please write to the following address:-
 
Research Integrity Team Directorate of Research, Innovation and Engagement IC2 Building, Keele University, ST5 5NE Email: research.governance@keele.ac.uk
Tel: 01782 733371

By completing the survey, you are confirming that:
You have read and understood the information sheet above,
You understand that your participation is voluntary and that you are free to withdraw at any time, and
You agree to take part in this study