Influencing behavioral intentions toward texting and driving: lessons learned from a multifaceted prevention campaign

Drivers who frequently engage in inattention-related activities are more likely to be involved in inattention-related crashes and near-crashes. Drivers who are engaging in moderate to complex non-driving tasks are between 1.6 and 5.5 times as likely to be involved in a crash or near-crash. This project implements a distracted and impaired driving prevention campaign targeted at teenagers (aged 16 to 19) in two U.S. rural community high schools. Known as M.E.T.H.O.D. (Mind, Eyes, Two Hands On Driving), this teen-led campaign was designed by U.S. based company, Innocorp, Ltd., to reduce behavioral intentions toward impaired and distracted driving by addressing their multifaceted determinants. These include self-efficacy, response efficacy, threat and coping appraisal, barriers and benefits to change, subjective norms and public commitment toward change. The research-based campaign activities were designed to be hands-on, fun, and engaging for youth. We analysed survey data on 100 students to illuminate behavioral intentions toward impaired and distracted driving. Using a youth-led multifaceted campaign, incorporating a definitive call-to-action, and involving school and community leaders in the initiative proved crucial for program success. The survey analysis indicates that students’ disproportionate belief that they are effective drivers even when distracted was a key predictor of distracted driving among the students we surveyed. A call to action must be easy to understand, easy to commit to doing, relevant to addressing the problem of distraction, and relevant to the individuals committing to the action. Programs may need to tailor their interventions to their targeted populations and forms of distracted driving.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.icadtsinternational.com/files/documents/2013_002.pdf
• 
• Authors:
  • Aguilar, M
  • Shoji, M N
• Conference:
  • International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (T2013), 20th, 2013, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
• Publication Date: 2013-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 40-5
• Monograph Title: 20th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety Conference Proceedings, 25-28 August 2013, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adolescents; Behavior; Cellular telephones; Distraction; Driver education; Drivers; Education; Schools; Telephone
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users)
• ATRI Terms: Adolescent; Driver behaviour; Driver education; Mobile phone; School
• ITRD Terms: 8122: USA
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01495636
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Oct 17 2013 10:10AM