A multi-year assessment of a hospital-school program to promote teen motor vehicle safety.

Background: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teen drivers. The main goal of this program was to reduce texting while driving among high school teens through a unique peer-generated anti-texting campaign. Methods: The program consisted of two phases. In Phase 1, student leaders participated in a half-day, hospital-based experiential program that emphasized safe teen driving. In Phase 2, these students conceptualized and implemented an anti-texting while driving campaign during the school year. The program enrolled 32 schools with 137 student participants in Phase 1. This study uses a prospective quasi-experimental pre-post design. A pre-survey and a follow-up online survey was used. Response rate was 81%. In Phase 2, two rounds of observations of drivers were made near the participating schools at the beginning and end of Phase 2 campaign. The results were analyzed using proportion tests. Results: There was a strong belief (6.49 on 7-point scale) that texting while driving could result in a crash. About 58% had texted while driving in the previous seven days in the pre-survey. This proportion decreased significantly to 44% in the follow-up (p<.05 knowledge of tennessee graduated driver licensing laws and feeling empowerment to take action with a teen who was texting improved significantly in phase drivers teens were observed the first round second observations. significant reduction proportion while driving p observed. conclusions: results observations support effectiveness this program meeting key objective reducing driving. also influenced teenagers willingness positive steps when faced texting. future efforts should aim influence social peer norms. level evidence: epidemiologic study iii lippincott williams wilkins inc.>

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