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Injury prevention programs against distracted driving: Are they effective?
Bellal Joseph1, Bardiya Zangbar1, Sandeep Bains1
1a Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Burns, and Emergency Surgery, Department of Surgery , University of Arizona , Tucson , Arizona.
Traffic Injury Prevention
|January 14, 2016
Summary
Distracted driving is a significant issue, but an awareness campaign significantly reduced its incidence among healthcare providers. This reduction in distracted driving was sustained for at least six months.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Injury Prevention
- Occupational Safety
Background:
- Distracted driving (DD) is a growing public safety concern, particularly among adult drivers.
- The incidence of distracted driving among healthcare providers is not well-documented.
- This study aimed to assess DD prevalence in healthcare professionals and evaluate an intervention to reduce it.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of distracted driving among healthcare providers.
- To implement and assess the effectiveness of a preventive campaign against distracted driving.
- To raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving within the healthcare community.
Main Methods:
- A 4-phase prospective interventional study was conducted with healthcare providers at a level 1 trauma center.
- Intervention included surveys, pamphlets, and banners, with observations before, immediately after, and six months post-intervention.
- Data collection involved direct observation of driving behaviors and self-reported survey responses.
Main Results:
- The overall incidence of distracted driving was 11.8%, with a significant reduction observed post-intervention.
- Talking and texting while driving decreased significantly after the intervention, with sustained reductions at six months.
- Survey results indicated that 35.5% of respondents admitted to DD, and 4.5% reported accidents due to DD.
Conclusions:
- An injury prevention campaign effectively reduced distracted driving among healthcare providers by 32%.
- The positive impact of the intervention was sustained at the six-month follow-up.
- Implementing similar campaigns could lead to a national reduction in distracted driving incidents.
