Teen Driving Translation Study (NIH)

Risky driving events are continuously monitored for teens 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.

Unsafe driving behaviors among teens 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.

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.

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.

Engagement with communication training and the booster session will be measured among parents in the intervention groups using a self-report questionnaire and online tracking.

Engagement with device feedback will be measured among teens and parents in the intervention groups via online tracking of the participant's web interface using Google Analytics.

Motor vehicle collision (MVC) will be measured among teens in both intervention groups and the control group by linking crash report data with the participating teen's driver's license number. Motor vehicle collision (MVC) during the 12 months following enrollment, including date and type of crash will be analyzed. The time of MVC may not be observed when the 12-month study participation is completed and thus, it will be considered as censored at month 12 (end of study participation).

Participants The investigators will also conduct interviews with a randomly selected sample of dyads in each intervention group (up to n=116, 58 dyads for each intervention group) to identify facilitators and barriers to program adoption.

Courts Adoption will also be measured by comparing characteristics of participating county courts (Franklin, Greene, Perry, and Wyandot Juvenile Traffic Courts) to county courts in the rest of Ohio (e.g., court hours, location, the number of staff, the number of cases). The investigators will also conduct interviews with participating court officials to identify facilitators and barriers to program adoption.

BECCI Implementation fidelity will be measured among parents in both intervention groups, and among the expert and peer trainers immediately after the intervention using the Behavior Change Counseling Index (BECCI). The BECCI measures the degree to which the intervention is delivered as intended and involves 11 items rated on a scale of 0 to 4. The average of all items will be calculated, with higher scores representing greater fidelity.

Fidelity Checklist Implementation fidelity will also be measured among the expert and peer trainers immediately after the intervention using a fidelity checklist. The fidelity checklist will measure intervention fidelity including conceptual accuracy and adherence, and responsiveness to the needs of participants. Trained Raters will review a sample of recorded training and booster sessions and complete the fidelity checklist.

Reach will be measured by comparing characteristics of teens who enrolled in the study to those who declined participation (e.g., demographics, residence location, citation history). The investigators will assess the number of eligible participants who are offered participation on each recruitment day, the number of those who were offered participation and declined as well as participation and drop-out rates.

Maintenance will be measured by assessing parents' intention to continue using the STS+ program and teens' intention to continue using the in-vehicle device and app. The investigators will interview court officials, peer trainers, and parent-teen dyads in each intervention group (approximately 50% of intervention dyads) at the end of the study to explore perceived facilitators and barriers to program implementation and sustainability in their community.

Direct costs refer to the personnel and non-personnel costs that can be assigned to the intervention (i.e., STS+). Personnel costs include service time and the proportion of staff time allocated to implement STS+ and non-personnel costs refer to other items needed for delivering STS+, such as equipment, supplies and materials. Examples of direct costs include staff time required to 1) deliver the intervention, 2) train the peer trainers, 3) install, manage, and maintain the driving feedback technology, 4) manage the STS+ website platform, and 5) train participants to use the driving feedback technology and STS+ website platform.

Direct cost data will be collected yearly from all dyads using a cost data collection protocol and template that includes annual costs for personnel, technology, training requirements, supplies, and infrastructure.

Indirect costs are those costs that are not directly associated with the intervention but that support the delivery of the intervention (e.g., provide private space in court house for the recruitment). For indirect costs, staff interviews will be used to determine the percent of their time and resources needed to support the delivery of the intervention.