Evaluating the Impact of a Multifaceted Distracted Driving Prevention Program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Traffic Safety Research
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Distracted driving remains a significant public health and safety concern, particularly among young drivers.
• College students are a key demographic for distracted driving interventions due to their high rates of vehicle operation and technology use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess changes in undergraduate college students' attitudes toward distracted driving following a comprehensive prevention program.
• To evaluate the immediate impact of a multifaceted intervention on attitudes and self-reported behaviors related to distracted driving.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental, pre- and post-test design was employed with undergraduate college students (aged 18+).
• The Questionnaire Assessing Distracted Driving measured attitudes and behaviors before and after the intervention.
• The intervention included a PowerPoint lecture and a distracted driving simulation.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant increases were observed in participants' willingness to discourage friends from texting and driving and to delay phone use until arrival.
• Participants reported more negative attitudes toward talking on handheld or hands-free devices and texting/emailing while driving.
• Perceived threat from distracted drivers (phone calls, texting/emailing) significantly increased post-intervention.

Conclusions:

• The multifaceted distracted driving prevention program effectively promoted negative attitudes toward distracted driving among college students.
• The intervention demonstrated immediate positive effects on attitudes and behavioral intentions related to distracted driving.