Intervention to Improve Driving Practices Among High-Risk Teen Drivers

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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.

Official Title
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Intervention to Improve Driving Practices Among High-Risk Teen Drivers

Conditions
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Drive, Recidivism, Communication, Feedback, Psychological

Intervention / Treatment
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* Combination Product: In-vehicle device
* Behavioral: Parent Communication


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age 16-17 years at time of violation Convicted of a moving violation Possess a valid intermediate driver's license issued by the state of Ohio, with proof of car insurance Access to a vehicle with an On-board Diagnostics II system port (i.e. cars made after 1996) in which he/she is the primary driver Smartphone with Bluetooth capabilities At least one legal guardian Exclusion Criteria: Unable to drive due to injury, license suspension, or car damage Vehicle already has an in-vehicle driving feedback system installed Extremely low average weekly drive time (e.g. <1 hour per week) Currently enrolled in another driving-related study War of the State Non-English speaking parent Adults unable to consent Pregnant women Prisoners

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 16 Years
Maximum Age: 17 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Control Group<br>The Control Group will have the in-vehicle device installed in the teen's car, but all feedback features will be disabled. | |
| Experimental: Feedback Only Group<br>The Feedback Only Group will have the in-vehicle devices in the teen's car and download the smartphone app on the teen's smartphone. Researchers will provide instructions on how teens can review their driving data. Teens will also receive biweekly cumulative driving reports. | Combination Product: In-vehicle device<br>* 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.<br>* Other names: In-vehicle Driving Feedback Technology;|
| Experimental: Feedback and Parent Communication Group<br>The Feedback and Parent Communication Group will have the in-vehicle devices in the teen's car and download the smartphone app on the teen's smartphone. Researchers will provide instructions on how teens and parents can review their driving data. The parent will also receive communication training on how to motivate their teen to adopt safe driving habits via online modules and a video call with a motivational interviewing professional. A second booster session will also occur two months after the initial training. Both teens and parents will receive a biweekly cumulative driving report. | Combination Product: In-vehicle device<br>* 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.<br>* Other names: In-vehicle Driving Feedback Technology;Behavioral: Parent Communication<br>* 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.<br>* Other names: Parent Training;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of Risky Driving Events | Events of hard braking and sudden acceleration. | Six months/study period | 
| Number of Unsafe Driving Behaviors | Events of speeding, distracted driving, and no seatbelt use. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Six months/study period |