Long-term evaluation of a trauma center-based juvenile driving intervention program

Area of Science:

• Trauma Prevention
• Adolescent Health
• Traffic Safety

Background:

• Motor vehicle trauma is a leading cause of death and injury for US adolescents.
• The Drive Alive (DA) program is a comprehensive intervention for juvenile offenders.
• Previous studies showed a 6-month reduction in recidivism after DA program completion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the Drive Alive program.
• To compare driving records of DA participants with a control group over 60 months.

Main Methods:

• Prospective review of Bureau of Motor Vehicle records for 488 DA program completers (2003-2008).
• Comparison with a control group of adolescents with similar driving offenses.
• Statistical analysis using Fischer's exact test at 6-month intervals up to 60 months.

Main Results:

• Speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol were primary referral reasons.
• A statistically significant reduction in driving offenses was observed for 6 months post-program.
• This positive effect was not sustained beyond the initial 6-month period.

Conclusions:

• The interactive Drive Alive intervention effectively reduces juvenile driving offenses in the short term.
• Long-term driving behavior improvements were not observed, indicating a need for sustained intervention.
• Further research into booster interventions is recommended to maintain positive outcomes for juvenile driving offenders.