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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04317547

Translation Study of a Safe Teen Driving Intervention

Steering Teens Safe (STS) is an evidence-based and parent-focused intervention developed by the investigators, which aims to improve safe teen driving practices by enhancing parental communication skills. The objective of this translation study is to assess the effect of STS on driving outcomes among teen drivers who have committed a traffic violation, and to assess the adoption and implementation fidelity of STS in a county court setting and among these high-risk teen drivers and their parents. The investigators will test the following specific aims: Aim 1: Determine the effects of the intervention on parent-teen communications and risky driving outcomes (risky driving events, unsafe driving behaviors, and recidivism) among teen drivers with a traffic violation(s). Aim 2: Assess the adoption of the intervention and implementation fidelity We will enroll 90 parent-teen dyads, comprised a teen driver (16 to 17 years) who committed a moving violation and a parent/legal guardian, from the Ohio Franklin County Juvenile Traffic Court following the teens' mandatory court hearing. Enrolled dyads will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 study groups (n=45/group): 1) Control, device installation only with no feedback to nor communication training for parents, or 2) Intervention, device feedback to teens and parents, and parents will also receive individualized virtual communication training. The expected outcome is to establish the effectiveness of STS augmented with driving feedback technology, and to establish the implementation fidelity of STS in a court setting.

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Key information

Conditions

Drive Adolescent Behavior Behavior Risk Behavior Risk-Taking

Age range

16 year–17 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Nationwide Children's Hospital

Columbus, Ohio, 43215, United States

About this study

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 an even greater risk for MVCs than their counterparts. While parent-focused interventions are an effective strategy to improve teen driving safety, most of these interventions target teen drivers are implemented as universal interventions (for teens of all risk profiles). Evidence on the effectiveness of these evidence-based interventions when translated and implemented among high-risk teen drivers such as those with a traffic citation is lacking.

The current project is significant because it will translate the STS program to the needs of high-risk teen drivers who have committed a traffic violation and their parents. This study is innovative because it partners with the local court system, and utilizes novel and cutting-edge in-vehicle technology. The findings of the current study will have a significant impact on juvenile traffic court's practices and policies aimed to improve teen driving safety by reducing MVC-related crashes, injuries, and deaths.

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;
  • Ward of the State;
  • Non-English speaking parent.

Treatment and study plan

Steering Teens Safe (STS)

Behavioral

The goal of STS is to provide intervention parents with guidance and communication skills, which will enable parents to effectively communicate with their teens about specific driving safety topics (e.g., speeding, seatbelt use, distracted driving). Our proposed parent training has two components: an individualized virtual communication training (provided to parents via Skype by a trained research team member) and a parent-teen safe driving communication guide (available online).

Other names: STS

Driving Feedback Technology.

Behavioral

The driving feedback technology will include the Azūga™ in-vehicle device and smartphone app.

Other names: Azuga device

Primary outcomes

  1. Frequency of Parent-teen communications

    Time frame: 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 the topic with their teen on driving topics.

  2. Number of Risky driving events and unsafe behavior rates

    Time frame: Six months/study period

    Events of hard braking, sudden acceleration, speeding, distracted driving, and no seatbelt use.

  3. Recidivism

    Time frame: Up to one year post-study period

    Recidivism will be measured among teens in both 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

  4. Adoption of the intervention

    Time frame: Six months/study period

    Adoption of the intervention by using publicly available court data from Franklin County Juvenile Traffic Court and compare it to all other juvenile traffic courts in Ohio. We will also use participant characteristic data and compare it to non-participating teens with a moving violation in Ohio.

  5. Implementation fidelity

    Time frame: Six months/study period

    Engagement with community training via a self-report questionnaire, engagement with device feedback via Google Analytics, and a fidelity checklist will be combined to report implementation fidelity

  6. Quality of Parent-teen communication

    Time frame: 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.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ginger Yang

Other

Collaborators

  • University of Iowa

Registry information

Official study title

A Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial to Improve Safe Driving Among Teen Drivers With Traffic Violations

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Mar 23, 2020
Registry last updated
Aug 22, 2024

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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