An Integrative Review on Teen Distracted Driving for Model Program Development

Distracted driving, especially driver inattention, is associated with high levels of crash-related fatalities and injury. Teen novice drivers are one of the groups most likely to drive distracted and to suffer its consequences. Teens have a higher risk of engaging in texting or secondary tasks, e.g., eating while driving. Distracted driving interventions to date aim to improve teen and societal safety, but few have achieved effectiveness. A need exists for effective evidence-based distracted driving interventions. We used an integrative review to identify rigorous evidence, and inform the development of a teen distracted driving educational intervention. This five-step review included: identifying the research problem; collecting literature; evaluating literature; synthesizing data; and presenting results. We searched 6 databases, identifying 185 articles. Following three rounds of inclusion screening (title, abstract, and full-text), captured according to a PRISMA flow chart, 17 studies met inclusion. We categorized these studies, conducted in the U.S., as five intervention types that used approaches including presentations, videos or instructional programs, education or training programs, driving simulator training, in-vehicle monitoring or feedback, and integrated programs. Study designs included randomized controlled trials pre-post, quasi-experimental, and experimental designs with prospective longitudinal cohorts. The studies were heterogeneous in design, intervention and outcome. However, three core themes emerged across studies: i.e., hazard awareness, hazard mitigation and attention maintenance are primary critically necessary skills to prevent distracted driving; engaging a parent or adult as a partner in the intervention process from classroom to car contributed to the effectiveness of the intervention; and leveraging technology in training enhanced the effectiveness of the intervention. Study limitations pertained to a focus on short-term effects; sampling distributions that did not account for gender, age, race, and/or ethnicity; types of interventions; and bias. The limitations affect the generalizability of included study findings and, potentially, the review findings, as they may not apply to populations or contexts outside those synopsized. Strengths included our team's expertise in conducting evidence-based reviews, support of a health science librarian, and use of international review guidelines. As an outcome, we are applying findings of the integrated review to develop a computer-based training addressing teen distracted driving.