Utilizing Text Messaging to Improve Vehicle Safety Among At-Risk Young Adults

Utilizing Text Messaging to Improve Vehicle Safety Among At-Risk Young Adults

The "Safe Vehicle Engagement (SaVE)" trials are 3 parallel randomized clinical trials that aim to determine the impact of text messaging (SMS) vehicle safety interventions vs. weekly SMS vehicle safety self-monitoring alone on seat belt use, distracted driving and drink driving among young adults identified in the emergency department (ED) with risky vehicle behaviors.

The investigators propose to conduct 3 related randomized, controlled, parallel group, assessor-blind, superiority trials of 6-week text message interventions vs. SMS vehicle safety self-monitoring in young adult participants with risky vehicle behaviors. A total of 500 adult participants will be enrolled: 300 into Cohort 1 (seat belt); 100 into Cohort 2 (distracted driving); 100 into Cohort 3 (drink driving). Each SMS intervention will be designed to target a single risk behavior. The study is powered to show a difference of 15% in the percentage of subjects reporting seat belt use at week 8. Other cohort trials (i.e. distracted driving, drink driving) and outcomes will be exploratory.

Inclusion criteria:

1) Adult participant (age ≥ 18 years & ≤25 years)

1. Cohort 1: Any vehicle trip in past 2 weeks where individual reports not using a seat belt
2. Cohort 2: Any vehicle trip in past 2 weeks where individual reports phone was used to type while driving and car was moving
3. Cohort 3: Any vehicle trip in past 2 weeks where individual reports driving a vehicle within 2 hours after consuming 2 or more drinks

Exclusion criteria:

1. Member of a protected population (prisoner)
2. Unable to provide informed consent
3. No plan to drive and/or ride in a vehicle in the next month
4. Non-English speaking
5. No personal mobile phone or planning on changing phone in next 3 months