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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04317664

Intervention to Improve Driving Practices Among High-Risk Teen Drivers

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Drive Behavior Communication Criminal Behavior Feedback, Psychological Recidivism

Age range

16 year–17 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

Nationwide Children's Hospital

Columbus, Ohio, 43205, United States

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

In-vehicle device

Combination Product

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) Push notification on the phone screen when a trip ends, 3) Detailed cumulative driving data; and 4) A customized biweekly driving summary report.

Other names: Azuga device, In-vehicle Driving Feedback Technology

Parent Communication

Behavioral

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, including includes three motivational interviewing technique demonstration videos and 26 safe driving lessons.

Other names: Motivational Interviewing, Steering Teens Safe, Parent Training

Primary outcomes

  1. Risky Driving Events

    Time frame: Six months/study period

    Risky driving events are continuously monitored for teens (240) across all three groups using an in-vehicle device and smartphone app. The system automatically detects and records driving events, including hard braking (≤ -0.45 g-force) sudden acceleration (> 0.35 g-force), speeding (>10 miles over the posted speed limit), and speed >75 mph. Event rates are calculated as the number of risky driving events per 1,000 miles driven.

  2. Unsafe Behaviors

    Time frame: Six months/study period

    Unsafe driving behaviors among teens (N = 240) are continuously monitored across all three study groups using an in-vehicle device and a smartphone app. The system automatically records behaviors such as speeding, and seatbelt nonuse (for selected vehicle makes and model years only), as well as the distance traveled while these behaviors occur. Unsafe behavior rates are calculated as the number of miles involving an unsafe behavior per 1,000 miles driven. Survey data supplement these measures by capturing self-reported distracted driving and seatbelt use for vehicles that are not fully compatible with the in-vehicle device.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Recidivism

    Time frame: Up to one year post-study period

    Recidivism is assessed by linking traffic citation and court disposition records to participants' driver's license numbers. Data collected include violation dates, types, and intervals between the index and subsequent violations.

  2. Parent-Teen Communication

    Time frame: at baseline, three months, and six months

    Parent-teen communication is assessed using REDCap surveys. Teens and parents rate the frequency (0-3) and success (1-10) of discussions about 26 driving skills and safety principles from the past month. Frequency scores range from 0-78, with higher scores indicating more frequent communication, and quality scores are weighted averages expressed as percentages (1-100%), with higher scores indicating higher quality communication. Additionally, one voice-recorded conversation per survey is also coded by trained raters for active listening, OARS (i.e.,open questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summary reflections) use solicitation of the teen's perspective, focus on behaviors, and emotional expression, with each behavior scored 0-3 to generate a summary quality score, with higher scores indicating higher quality communication.

Other outcomes

  1. Engagement With Parent Communication Training

    Time frame: Six months/study period

    Engagement with the parent communication training is measured among parents in the Feedback and Parent Communication Group using a self-report questionnaire and online tracking.

  2. Engagement With Device Feedback

    Time frame: Six months/study period

    Engagement with device feedback will be measured among teens in the Feedback Only Group and the Feedback and Parent Communication Group and parents in the Feedback and Parent Communication Group via online tracking of the participant's web interface using Google Analytics.

  3. Communication Training Delivery

    Time frame: Three months/study period

    Communication training delivery is measured among parents in the Feedback and Parent Communication Group and communication specialist via participant and trainer surveys completed immediately after each training session using the Behavior Change Counseling Index.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ginger Yang

Other

Collaborators

  • Ohio State University
  • University of Iowa
  • University of Nebraska

Registry information

Acronym: projectDRIVE

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Mar 23, 2020
Registry last updated
Feb 23, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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