Intervention to Improve Driving Practices Among High-Risk Teen Drivers

项目总结 汽车碰撞(MVC)是美国青少年死亡的主要原因。违反交通规则的青少年司机面临的风险更大。然而，大多数以家长为重点的干预措施针对的是学习者阶段的青少年司机，在无人监督的独立驾驶阶段实施的干预措施很少，或者针对高危青少年司机的干预措施，例如那些违反交通规则的司机。从车载设备到智能手机应用程序等技术的进步，为提高青少年的安全驾驶提供了一条新的途径。然而，关于如何利用这项技术积极吸引父母，并随后影响青少年的安全驾驶行为，人们知之甚少。本研究的目的是评估提供驾驶反馈(有没有父母培训)对减少高危青少年司机的危险驾驶事件、不安全驾驶行为和再次犯罪(随后的交通违规)的效果。我们的核心假设是，通过技术设备和应用程序进行驾驶反馈将减少高风险的驾驶事件和行为，而通过家长培训增强反馈将进一步改善结果。我们将测试以下具体目标：目标1：确定干预对减少青少年危险驾驶事件和不安全驾驶行为的效果；目标2：确定干预对提高家长与青少年关于安全驾驶行为的沟通频率和质量的效果；以及目标3：确定干预对降低青少年交通违法再犯率的效果。我们将从俄亥俄州富兰克林县少年交通法院登记与父母/法定监护人(n=240)一起违反移动违章的青少年司机(16至17岁)，在青少年强制性法庭听证后。登记的家长-青少年双人将被随机分配到3个研究组中的一个(n=80个双人/组)：第一组，对照组，没有设备反馈，也没有家长培训；第二组，只向青少年提供设备反馈，不向父母提供反馈或培训；或第三组，设备反馈给青少年和家长，他们也将接受交通安全沟通专家的个性化虚拟培训。预期结果将确立车载驾驶反馈技术与家长培训相结合在减少危险驾驶事件、不安全驾驶行为和再次犯罪率方面的有效性。我们的项目意义重大，因为它针对的是违反交通规则的高危青少年的安全驾驶。这项研究具有创新性，因为它与当地法院系统合作，并利用新颖的车载技术提供客观测量的研究结果。这项研究的结果将对青少年交通法庭旨在通过减少撞车、伤害和死亡来提高青少年驾驶安全的做法和政策产生重大影响。

PROJECT SUMMARY Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are the leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States. Teen drivers who have committed a traffic violation are at even greater risk. However, most parent-focused interventions target teen drivers during the learner phase, with very few interventions being implemented during the unsupervised independent driving phase or targeting high-risk teen drivers, such as those with traffic violations. Advances in technology, ranging from in-vehicle devices to smartphone applications, offer a new avenue to enhance teens’ safe driving. However, little is known about how to use this technology to actively engage parents, and subsequently, influence teens’ safe driving practices. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of providing driving feedback (with and without parent training) on reducing risky driving events, unsafe driving behaviors, and recidivism (subsequent traffic violation) among high-risk teen drivers. Our central hypothesis is that driving feedback via a technological device and app will reduce risky driving events and behaviors, and that augmenting feedback with parent training will further improve outcomes. We will test the following specific aims: Aim 1: Determine the effects of the intervention on reducing teens’ risky driving events and unsafe driving behaviors; Aim 2: Determine the effects of the intervention on increasing frequency and quality of parent-teen communication about safe driving practices; and Aim 3: Determine the effects of the intervention on decreasing teen traffic violation recidivism. We will enroll teen drivers (age 16 to 17 years) who committed a moving violation along with their parents/legal guardians (n=240 dyads) from the Ohio Franklin County Juvenile Traffic Court following the teens’ mandatory court hearing. Enrolled parent-teen dyads will be randomly assigned to 1 of 3 study groups (n=80 dyads/group): Group 1, control group with no device feedback nor parent training; Group 2, device feedback to teens only, providing no feedback nor training to parents; or Group 3, device feedback to teens and parents, who will also receive individualized virtual training with a traffic safety communication specialist. The expected outcome will establish the effectiveness of in-vehicle driving feedback technology augmented with parent training in reducing risky driving events, unsafe driving behaviors and recidivism. Our project is significant because it targets safe driving among high-risk teens who have committed a traffic violation. The study is innovative because it partners with the local court system and utilizes novel in-vehicle technologies to provide objectively measured study outcomes. The findings of this study will have a significant impact on juvenile traffic court’s practices and policies aimed to improve teen driving safety by reducing crashes, injuries, and deaths.