Trials Today

Randomized Trial on Mobile Technology and Young Drivers' Cellphone Use

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to conduct a randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of a cellphone app and a driving mode intervention on driving behavior in drivers aged 18-24 years.

Conditions

Cell Phone Use
Automobile Driving

Eligibility

Eligible Ages: Between 18 Years and 24 Years
Eligible Genders: All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Inclusion Criteria

Adults 18-24 years of age at time of recruitment - Must have ownership and exclusive access to a passenger vehicle - Must have car insurance with at least state-minimum coverage - Must live in Greater Columbus (Ohio) area - Must drive at least 2 days a week on average - Must have functioning iPhone or Android smartphone with an active phone service account (Ex: Verizon, AT&T, etc.) - Must self-report handheld calling or texting while driving (≥ 1 time/week) - Must not be enrolled in another driving-related research study during the study period. - Must be willing to be randomized and comply with study requirements - Must have no plans to change cellphones or vehicles in next 6 months or agree to transfer FleetSafer app/DriveCam if they change cellphones or vehicles - Must speak and read English

Exclusion Criteria

Drivers under 18 years of age - Drivers holding learner's permits - Drivers who share a vehicle with a family member or others - Infrequent drivers (Drive 2 days a week or less) - Participants from the pilot R21 project - Current users of a cellphone-blocking app or driving mode who do not agree to uninstall/de-activate the app for the duration of participation in the study - Current users of a car insurance monitoring device (physical device or app)

Study Design

Phase: N/A
Study Type: Interventional
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose: Prevention
Masking: None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

Arm	Description	Assigned Intervention
No Intervention Control Group	Commercial cell-phone blocking app installed on smartphone, but app will be inactive.
Experimental Commercial Cellphone-Blocking App	Commercial cellphone-blocking app that blocks handheld cellphone use while driving, but allows emergency calls and phone use after pressing the passenger button will be installed on smartphone.	Behavioral: Commercial Cellphone-Blocking App (Active) The Fleetsafer app, which is a commercial cellphone app that uses a cellphone's standard sensors and function to block handheld cellphone use while driving, will be downloaded on the participant's smartphone.
Experimental Driving Mode	Driving mode blocks handheld phone use while driving or facilitates hands free use (exact functionality dependent on smartphone type and service provider).This group will also have the commercial cell-phone blocking app installed on smartphone, but app will be inactive.	Behavioral: Driving Mode Apple's "Do Not Disturb" driving mode provided by Apple for iPhones or Google Do Not Disturb, Verizon Messages +, Android Auto or have another app, called LifeSaver installed on their Android phone (collectively referred to as driving modes; the specific driving mode for participants in this arm will be determined based on smartphone type and service provider).

Recruiting Locations

Nationwide Children's Hospital
Columbus, Ohio 43205

Contact:
Motao Zhu, MD,MS,PhD
614-355-6687
motao.zhu@nationwidechildrens.org

More Details

NCT ID: NCT05163119
Status: Recruiting
Sponsor: Motao Zhu

Study Contact

Motao Zhu, MD,MS,PhD
(614)-355-6687
motao.zhu@nationwidechildrens.org

Detailed Description

For this study, 1200 teens aged 18-24 years will be randomized into one of three study groups for 6 months. Researchers aim to evaluate the effectiveness of commercial cellphone-blocking apps and driving mode interventions on cellphone use while driving and evaluate the effectiveness of commercial cellphone-blocking apps and driving mode interventions on high-risk driving events.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.