This study identified the specific predictors of crashes and near crashes among young drivers and determined if these predictors vary across age and skill level using the Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP2) naturalistic dataset.

Principal Investigators: Helen Loeb, PhD; Thomas Seacrist, MBE

Funding: Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies (CChIPS)

Machine learning is an analytic technique that shows promise in providing algorithms to help predict and manage certain teen driver behaviors that can contribute to crash risk, including speed management. In this multi-year study, researchers successfully created a mechanism to receive real-time data from a driving simulator to train machine learning models using this data to make predictions of teen driver behaviors. They were also able to provide feedback about speed management to teen drivers while in the simulator.

The researchers are continuing to analyze the data to help inform the development of interventions to help teen drivers develop crucial speed management skills. The mechanism they created also shows great promise in preventing teens from engaging in other dangerous driving behaviors via personalized feedback models.

Principal Investigators: Yi-Ching Lee, PhD; Santiago Ontañón, PhD

Funding: Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies (CChIPS)

Risky driving behaviors contribute to adolescent injury, disability, and death, yet little is known about how mental health factors are associated with adolescent driving behaviors. In this study of 60 newly licensed teens and their parents, researchers examined how self-reported mental health symptoms related to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, and depression affect driving behaviors.They found that the more ADHD inattention symptoms reported by teens, the more errors they made in the driving simulator. The more self-reported symptoms of ADHD hyperactivity and conduct disorder, the more self-reported risky driving behaviors.

The researchers plan to further examine the role of mental health symptoms in driving behavior, particularly among teens with higher rates and severity of ADHD or other mental health problems. The early stage of independent driving is an important time for addressing the relationship between driving performance and mental health conditions.

Principal Investigator: Catherine C. McDonald, PhD, RN, FAAN

Funding: National Institutes of Health (Grant R00NR013548); University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing Dorothy Mereness Endowed Research Fund

Research examining cell phone bans has shown mixed results on their effectiveness. This could be due to variations in the types of laws and how effectiveness is measured. Drivers who text while driving may also take other risks that contribute to crashes, such as ignore speed limits. These patterns of risk-taking may be attributable to an underlying individual characteristic or trait and should be studied further so that we can predict those at risk and begin to develop tailored interventions. 

Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Walshe, PhD

Funding: U.S. National Institute on Drug Abust (RO1 DA 18913); Center for Injury Research and Prevention at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia