Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #103862

Bruce G. Simons-Morton, EdD, MPH, DESPR, NICHD, NIH, Prevention Research Branch, 6100 Executive Blvd, 7B13M, Rockville, MD 20852, 301-496-5674, Mortonb@mail.nih.gov

This report describes intervention effects on parent limits on novice teen driving through six months post-licensure. 4344 parent-teen dyads completed baseline surveys and were randomly assigned to intervention or comparison groups at permit. Intervention families received persuasive communications related to high-risk teen driving, while comparison families received standard information on driver safety. 3786 teens obtained licenses. This report uses data from teenage reports at license (n=3429), three months (n=3049), and six months (n=2995). Exposure to the Checkpoints Program significantly affected parent limits on teen driving, which in turn significantly influenced teen driving outcomes. Compared to comparison-group teens, Intervention-group teens reported stricter limits on teen driving at license, three months, and six months. Stricter limits at license, three months, and six months were related to fewer crashes among teens six months after licensure. The results of this study demonstrate that it is possible to obtain modest increases in parental restrictions on teen driving limits statewide through well designed and frequently delivered persuasive communications.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the presentation the participants will be able to ...
• Discuss the relative importance of parental management in the prevention of MVC among young drivers.
• Describe the theoretical and practical bases for the Checkpoints Program.
• Discuss the implications of the findings and types of additional research and program initiatives may be needed.

Keywords: Adolescents,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation