The purpose of this study is to test the effects of an in-vehicle driving feedback technology, with and without parent communication training, on risky driving events, unsafe driving behaviors, and subsequent traffic violations among teens who have recently received a moving traffic violation.
For this study, 240 teen and parent/guardian dyads will be randomized into one of three study groups for six months. Teens will be aged 16-17 who committed a moving-related traffic violation and their parent/legal guardian who is most involved with their driving. Researchers will aim to determine the effects of the intervention on teens' risky driving events, unsafe driving behaviors, and traffic violation recidivism. Additionally, researchers will aim to determine the effects of the intervention on frequency and quality of parent-teen communications about safe driving practices.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
480
The Azūga™ in-vehicle driving feedback technology, which consists of a pager-sized device plugged into the vehicle's on-board diagnostic port (installed in the teen's car) and a smartphone app (downloaded on the teen's smartphone), will be installed/downloaded. Three types of feedback will be provided to intervention teens: 1) Direct audio feedback from the installed device; 2) Detailed cumulative driving data; and 3) A customized biweekly driving summary report.
An individualized virtual training in communication strategies about driving safety along with a booster session will be delivered by a traffic safety communication specialist to subjects in the Feedback and Parent Communication Group. Intervention parents in this group will also be provided with access to an online parent-teen safe driving communication guide.
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Columbus, Ohio, United States
RECRUITINGNumber of Risky Driving Events
Events of hard braking and sudden acceleration.
Time frame: Six months/study period
Number of Unsafe Driving Behaviors
Events of speeding, distracted driving, and no seatbelt use.
Time frame: Six months/study period
Frequency of Parent-teen Communication
Frequency of parent-teen communication about driving safety. This will be measured through a survey asking parents how often they discussed a driving topic with their teen.
Time frame: Six months/study period
Recidivism
Recidivism will be measured among teens in all three groups by linking traffic citations and court disposition data with the participating teen's driver's license number. Recidivism during the 12 months following enrollment, including date and type of violation, and days from index violation to subsequent violation will be analyzed.
Time frame: Up to one year post-study period
Quality of Parent-teen Communication
The quality of parent-teen communication about driving safety will be measured through an average rating of each driving topic which is recorded by the parent and teen.
Time frame: Six months/study period
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