Abstract
The proposed project timeline will allow analysis of data during several distinct phases of smartphone app use; these will include: 1) early adoption/use; 2) “school in session”; 3) summertime (i.e., school not in session); and 4) varying levels of incentives being in place (e.g., earning Teens in the Driver Seat (TDS) annual Cup Competition points for a team/school, TDS Cup points plus additional incentives (e.g., gift cards, drawings for larger prizes, etc.). Statistical analyses will be conducted to determine if variances within these (and other potential) conditions of app user understanding and/or incentives had significant impacts on the frequency of distracted driving. Cost share for some of the incentives is being provided by State Farm of Texas.
Project Highlights
- The project evaluated a smartphone app that rewards teens for not using their phones while driving. The smartphone app evaluated in this project is available for download.
https://www.t-driver.com/you-in-the-driver-seat-app/. - Analysis of the use of the phone showed that teen drivers were more likely to use their phone on longer trips.
Final Report
EWD & T2 Products
Student Impact Statement – Silvy Munira : The student(s) working on this project provided an impact statement describing what the project allowed them to learn/do/practice and how it benefited their education.
Presented a Safe-D Webinar on Analysis of an Incentive-based Smart Phone App for Young Drivers on February, 25th 2019
Lifesavers Conference on Highway Safety Priorities 2020 Traffic Safety Scholar Program scholarship recipient, Sirajum Munira. Attended virtual networking events centered around this project’s activities.
Lifesavers Conference on Highway Safety Priorities 2019 Traffic Safety Scholar Program scholarship recipient, Sirajum Munira. Attended conference and presented a poster on the project.
Lifesavers Conference on Highway Safety Priorities 2018 Traffic Safety Scholar Program scholarship recipient, Sirajum Munira. Attended conference.
Workshop presented at 2018 Lifesavers Conference on Highway Safety Priorities, April 23, 2018, San Antonio TX. Distracted Driving Among Teens, Latest Data & Solutions included preliminary results from the study presented by Mr. Henk.
It was also promoted as “app of the day” on KRLD radio in October 2020.
This research is described in promotional material for the app, referred to as the 2018 pilot test of the You in the Driver Seat app. The app has been promoted on websites and social media from TTI when launched in Nov 2020. Promotion materials can be found here.
Presentations/Publications
Russell H. Henk, Sirajum Munira & Stacey Tisdale. An Incentive-Based Teen Driver Smartphone App: Results of 2017 Pilot Project. Accepted for podium presentation (set for April 24, 2018) at the 2018 Lifesavers Conference – National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities, San Antonio, Texas. (Published)
Sirajum Munira, Russell H. Henk & Stacey Tisdale. An Incentive-Based Teen Driver Smartphone App: Results of 2017 Pilot Project. Presented January 9, 2018 at the 97th Annual Transportation Research Board Meeting, Washington, D.C. (Published).
Munira, S., Henk, R. H., & Tisdale, S. (2018). An Incentive-Based Teen Driver Smartphone App: Results of 2017 Pilot Project, Paper presented at the Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting Paper No. 18-01583.
Munira, S. & Henk, R. H. (2019). Deterring Distractions & Aggressive Driving Behavior Using a Smartphone App: What Difference Does it Make? Poster presented at 2019 Lifesavers Conference on Highway Safety Priorities, Louisville KY, April 2, 2019.
Munira, S. & Henk, R. (2020). Deterring Distraction and Risky Driving Behavior among Teen & Young drivers Using a Smartphone App: Characterization and Impact. Paper presented at the Transportation Research Board 99th Annual Meeting Paper No 20-00503
Munira, S., Henk, R. (2019, March). Deterring Distractions & Aggressive Driving Behavior Using a Smartphone App: What Difference Does it Make? Presented at Lifesavers Conference, March 31, 2019, Louisville, Kentucky.
Final Dataset
The final datasets for this project are located in the Safe-D Collection on the VTTI Dataverse; DOI: 10.15787/VTT1/KOT55T.
Research Investigators (PI*)
Project Information
Start Date: 2017-03-01
End Date: 2019-09-30
Status: Complete
Grant Number: 69A3551747115
Total Funding: $113,080
Source Organization: State Farm of Texas, Safe-D National UTC
Project Number: TTI-01-01
Safe-D Theme Areas
Safe-D Application Areas
Driver Factors and Interfaces
More Information
Sponsor Organization
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC 20590 United States
Performing Organization
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
3135 TAMU
College Station, Texas 77843-3135
USA