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Distracted driving is a significant contributing factor to motor vehicle crashes. Cultural-based strategies seek to change the behaviors of individuals by connecting their social identity to nested layers of relationships. Relationships between family members or between supervisors and employees provide opportunities to reduce distracted driving. This project conducted surveys among parents with teens who were driving and supervisors who supervised employees who drove for work to better understand their beliefs about distracted driving and about establishing (or clarifying) expectations and rules about distracted driving. Regression models indicated that attitudes, perceived injunctive and descriptive norms, and perceived control were significant predictors of distracted driving behaviors by parents. Many parents indicated they had family rules about not having hand-held cell phone conversations or texting while driving; far fewer parents indicated they had rules about not having hands-free cell phone conversations, not adjusting vehicle equipment, or not reaching for objects while driving. Regression models indicated that behavioral beliefs, perceived descriptive norms, and perceived control were significant predictors of parenting behaviors to reduce distracted driving among their teens. Similar patterns were found among supervisors in workplaces with employees who drive for work. The results of these surveys informed the development of conversation guides for parents and supervisors to decrease distracted driving and increase engaged driving.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers with speeding, seat belt non-compliance, alcohol involvement, and distractions serving as the primary contributors to this unacceptably high crash rate. In an effort to mitigate this situation, a prototype teen driver support system (TDSS) has been designed and developed. This computer-based system provides real-time feedback to teens regarding speed limit violations and warns of upcoming speed zone changes. A unique feature of this system is that speed limit feedback is relative to the speed limit posted on the roadway on which the teen is driving. By informing teens of speeding behavior, it is hoped that this system will reduce teen crash rates. This project includes a description of the TDSS features and specifications for how the TDSS operates using the Smart Phone technology. A small usability study was completed as part of the project where teen drivers (aged 18-19) drove with and without the system. Overall, the pilot study demonstrated that the TDSS could operate effectively within a vehicle driven by a teen driver. Warnings and messages were presented to the drivers and corresponding text messages were sent when drivers failed to alter their behavior in relation to a warning. The performance data trended in the direction expected, with the TDSS encouraging lower speeds and less speeding overall. The teen participants reported that very little mental effort was required to interact with the TDSS while driving, but they also reported the system increased their perceptions of stress while driving. The second phase of the study proposed the information that should be presented in the real-time text messages and to parents in a weekly report. A potential weekly report format is described. Finally, the project identified the issues associated with using the TDSS as an additional tool to support GDL programs.