Evaluation of a Prototype Safer Teen Car

This document describes the methods, findings, and recommendations by the University of Minnesota on the practicality and benefits of a system that can provide real-time driver feedback to teen drivers. A prototype Safer Teen Car (STC) system was developed and served as the basis for a field evaluation and as a demonstration unit for stakeholder groups. The STC designed for this project was comprised of a number of interrelated subsystems, including: teen driver identification subsystem; seat belt detection & enhanced reminder subsystem; passenger presence subsystem; speed monitoring & feedback subsystem; excessive maneuver & feedback subsystem; cell phone use detection & mitigation subsystem; and driving context subsystem. The findings generally showed improved safety behavior when the STC system provided feedback. For example, the reduction in the per-mile rate of excessive maneuvers was statistically significant at night, but not during the day. In general, the results indicated reductions in the rates of speeding, excessive maneuvers, and seat belt nonuse. Overall, the STC was viewed as useful and safety-enhancing, by both teens and parents. Both teens and parents agreed that the STC changed the teens’ driving behavior. Parents would generally recommend the STC to other parents.

• Record URL:
  http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nvs/pdf/811784.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Westat

  1650 Research Boulevard
  Rockville, MD  United States  20850

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Manser, Michael
  • Edwards, Christopher
  • Lerner, Neil
  • Jenness, James
  • Huey, Richard
• Publication Date: 2013-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 188p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cellular telephones; Driver information systems; Driver monitoring; Driving; Field studies; In vehicle sensors; Passengers; Prototypes; Real time information; Seat belts; Speeding; Teenage drivers
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01491409
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT HS 811 784
• Contract Numbers: DTNH22-08-D-00115, Task Order 2
• Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 3 2013 12:24PM