Intervention to Improve Driving Practices Among High-Risk Teen Drivers

Phase 3

Recruiting

• Conditions: Feedback, Psychological; Recidivism; Drive; Communication
• Interventions: Combination Product: In-vehicle device; Behavioral: Parent Communication

• Registration Number: NCT04317664
• Lead Sponsor: Ginger Yang

Brief Summary

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

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 Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2020-03-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-03-19
• Study First Posted: 2020-03-23
• Study Start: 2020-09-28
• Primary Completion: 2024-10-31
• Status Verified: 2025-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-03-27
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-01
• Study Completion: 2025-12-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 480

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Feedback Only Group	In-vehicle device	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.
Feedback and Parent Communication Group	Parent Communication	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.
Feedback and Parent Communication Group	In-vehicle device	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.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Recidivism	Up to one year post-study period	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.
Number of Risky Driving Events	Six months/study period	Events of hard braking and sudden acceleration.
Number of Unsafe Driving Behaviors	Six months/study period	Events of speeding, distracted driving, and no seatbelt use.
Quality of Parent-teen Communication	Six months/study period	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.
Frequency of Parent-teen Communication	Six months/study period	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.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Nationwide Children's Hospital; 🇺🇸 Columbus, Ohio, United States