250445 Parent attitudes toward licensing restrictions to reduce teen motor vehicle crash risk

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

C. Raymond Bingham, PhD , Transportation Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Jean T. Shope, MSPH, PhD , Transportation Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Jennifer Zakrajsek, MS, MPH , Transportation Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Andrea Ippel Barretto, MHS , Transportation Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Background/Purpose. Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) exists in most US states and is effective in reducing motor vehicle crashes among teens. Most GDL programs are multi-phased and include restrictions on teens' initial licensed driving. Parents play an important role in enforcing license restrictions. Learning more about parents' attitudes toward GDL restrictions may help states and community agencies create and disseminate effective teen driving resources for parents. Methods. A nationwide telephone survey about GDL was conducted with parents of 15-17 year old teens (N=1,393) using a randomized split design. Predictors of attitudes toward GDL restrictions were examined using multinomial logistic regression. Parents of teens in either the learner phase or restricted phase of GDL were included in the analysis (n=781). Results/Outcomes. A majority of parents supported or strongly supported three common GDL restrictions on: use of cell phones while driving (93.6%), driving at night (75.0%), and driving with teen passengers (84.5%). Parents who strongly supported night restrictions were more likely to be fathers of daughters (p=.0193), parents with teens in the learner phase (p<.0001), and parents reporting higher incomes (p=.0214). Parents who strongly supported passenger restrictions were more likely to have teens in the learner phase (p<.0001), live in metro areas (p=.0064), and report higher incomes (p=.0075). Conclusions. These findings could help to create parent-directed resources and messages that are appropriate and effective at reaching those parents opposed to or not convinced about the GDL restrictions.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Explain parent attitudes toward Graduated Driver Licensing restrictions. Discuss how the information learned about parent attitudes toward Graduated Driver Licensing restrictions can be used to improve communication with parents and better help them reduce their teens' crash risk.

Keywords: Injury Prevention, Motor Vehicles

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Principal Investigator of the study being presented.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.