Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Young and newly-qualified drivers are at an elevated risk of being involved in traffic crashes. Educational and training Interventions have been generally unsuccessful in improving safety in this group, or have been poorly-evaluated. The current trial seeks to evaluate five different interventions in a robust study design
Who can participate?
New drivers aged 17-24 and either just started learning to drive (less than 10 hours on-road practice) (learners), OR just passed test (within one month) (newly-qualified drivers)
What does the study involve?
The Driver2020 study is assessing whether any of five interventions can reduce the number of young drivers having collisions in their first year of driving after passing their test. There are two arms to the study.
In the learner arm, volunteer learner drivers who have just started learning are assigned at random to either receive one of three interventions (a logbook app, e-learning hazard perception training, or a classroom-based educational session) or to be in the control group for that arm.
In the newly-qualified driver arm, volunteers who have just passed their driving test are assigned at random to either receive one of two interventions (a parent-teen-mentoring agreement, or a telematics app) or to be in the control group for that arm.
Each participant completes a survey when they pass their driving test, and then again at 3, 6 and 12 months post-test. The main measure of interest is the proportion of each group that has one or more self-reported road collisions within their first year of driving. If any of the interventions are effective, we expect this proportion to be lower than in the corresponding control group
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The benefits of taking part for participants will be that they are able to find out more about their own driving (through completing surveys) and in some cases (for those in the treatment groups) be able to take part in some additional interesting activities. We do not anticipate any risks of taking part
Where is the study run from?
Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), UK
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
April 2018 to December 2021
Who is funding the study?
Department for Transport, UK
Who is the main contact?
Dr Shaun Helman
shelman@trl.co.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Public
Primary contact
Dr Shaun Helman
ORCID ID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2670-1476
Contact details
TRL
Crowthorne House
Nine Mile Ride
Wokingham
RG40 3GA
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1344770650
shelman@trl.co.uk
Type
Scientific
Additional contact
Dr Shaun Helman
ORCID ID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2670-1476
Contact details
TRL
Crowthorne House
Nine Mile Ride
Wokingham
RG40 3GA
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1344770650
shelman@trl.co.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
Nil known
Study information
Scientific title
Driver2020: A randomised controlled trial evaluating the impact of five educational and technology-based interventions on the crash risk of newly-qualified drivers aged 17-24, in their first year of driving after passing their practical driving test in GB
Acronym
Driver2020
Study hypothesis
1. A 'logbook' mobile phone app provided to learner drivers aged 17-24 in GB results in a lower proportion of such drivers who have a crash in their first 12 months of post-test driving, relative to a control group of learner drivers who do not receive the app
2. A 'hazard perception training' e-learning course (3 modules) provided to learner drivers aged 17-24 in GB results in a lower proportion of such drivers who have a crash in their first 12 months of post-test driving, relative to a control group of learner drivers who do not receive the course
3. A one-day road safety education course (with follow-up mobile phone app and materials) provided to learner drivers aged 17-24 in GB results in a lower proportion of such drivers who have a crash in their first 12 months of post-test driving, relative to a control group of learner drivers who do not receive the course and supporting materials
4. A web-based 'parent-teen mentoring agreement' provided to newly-qualified drivers aged 17-24 in GB results in a lower proportion of such drivers who have a crash in their first 12 months of post-test driving, relative to a control group of newly-qualified drivers who do not receive the web-based parent-teen mentoring agreement
5. A mobile-phone-based app which provides feedback (including rewards and punishment) on driving style provided to newly-qualified drivers aged 17-24 in GB results in a lower proportion of such drivers who have a crash in their first 12 months of post-test driving, relative to a control group of newly-qualified drivers who do not receive the app
Ethics approval
Approved 04/10/2017, The TRL Ethics Mini-Panel (Crowthorne House, Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham, RG40 3GA, UK; +44 (0)1344 770801; rcuerden@trl.co.uk), ref: 11224332
Study design
Interventional randomized controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Community
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Crash rate in newly-qualified drivers
Intervention
Five interventions are being evaluated. Three are being delivered to learner drivers, and two to newly-qualified drivers (who have just passed their practical driving test) in GB. In both arms of the study (learners and newly-qualified drivers) participants are allocated to a treatment group or a control group on the basis of picking (at random) one slot from a pre-populated list of available slots in all groups in that arm of the study. The slots were selected according to anticipated drop-out rates for the different interventions, thus at the point of allocation, there are more slots available for some interventions than for others.
The interventions for learner drivers are:
1. A 'logbook' app for smartphones which encourages learner drivers to undertake more private on-road practice when learning to drive, ideally on a range of different road types and in different traffic situations. The app is downloaded by learners allocated to this condition and then used voluntarily. Also included in this group is a discounted 'learner insurance; incentive designed to make it easier for those learners without existing learner driver insurance to gather extra supervised practice with family members
2. An e-learning course on hazard perception skill. Three modules are provided for voluntary completion via a link sent in an email or text. The first of the modules is offered when the participant books their driving theory test. The second and third are offered when the participant books their practical test, and when they pass their practical test, respectively
3. A classroom-based education intervention, offered to learners on pre-set dates and locations across GB. The session takes around a day to deliver and includes a range of activities and discussion topics, as well as interaction with VR and other content focused on allowing participants to learn about the risks they face as new drivers, and working on their hazard perception skill. At the end of the course, participants are also able to download an app which prompts them to remember the various content discussed, and suggests ways in which they can help minimise their risk (for example maximising practice)
The interventions for newly-qualified drivers are:
1. A web-based 'parent-teen mentoring agreement'. This is offered at registration after test pass, and is again voluntary. The web-based materials provide a framework in which parents (or guardians) can agree limitations on driving freedoms (for example things like night driving) with their young driver, running over the initial 3-6 months of the young person's driving career
2. A smartphone-app-based behavioural feedback intervention. This app is offered for voluntary download on registration after test pass, and provides feedback and incentives that aim to mimic what is provided by similar products which are offered as part of insurance policies for this demographic. The app provides feedback on driving style, promoting driving that is within the speed limit, and lacking harsh braking, harsh cornering, and driving at night. Incentives are achievable each week (Amazon vouchers to small values), and a prize draw ticket is earned every month as long as there are not more than a single 'bad' week ('red') in terms of behaviour score
Intervention durations:
Logbook: Duration is variable – the amount of time a person takes to learn how to drive is variable, but usually between 3 and 9 months.
HP training: Duration is 3x30 minute e-learning modules, delivered at varying times during learning to drive and just after test pass.
Classroom training: Duration is a day-long classroom session, followed by variable period of app use during variable learning period.
Parent-teen mentoring agreement: Duration is designed to be 3-6 months, but is variable depending on choice.
Telematics: Duration is 12 months.
Follow up is the same for all groups. A test-pass survey is completed at test pass, then surveys are completed at 3, 6 and 12 months post-test.
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Proportion of each group (treatment and controls) who have one or more collision in their first year of driving post-test. This is measured at 12 months post-test (and in surveys at 3 and 6 months post-test also).
Secondary outcome measures
Various secondary measures are used. Measures taken at test pass, and then at 3, 6 and 12 months post-test. For each intervention, there are secondary measures associated with the intended mechanisms by which the intervention is assumed to work. These are:
1. Logbook: Amount of practice and variety of roads driven on during learning
2. HP Training: Data on theory test HP scores will be used to assess this skill, and a scale on 'hazardous situations' will be used in the post-test surveys
3. Classroom-based intervention: Survey items on driving style
4. Parent-teen mentoring intervention: Items asking about limits imposed on driving situations, and exposure to driving at night and with peer-aged passengers
5. Telematics app: Survey items on driving style
Overall trial start date
24/04/2017
Overall trial end date
31/12/2021
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged 17-24 and either just started learning to drive (less than 10 hours on-road practice) (learners), OR
2. Aged 17-24 and just passed test (within one month) (newly-qualified drivers)
Participant type
Healthy volunteer
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
Achieved sample on main outcome measure, 14,252 (2,036 per group). Many more than this expected to be recruited to achieve this sample - likely around 25,000
Participant exclusion criteria
No access to a vehicle
Recruitment start date
01/04/2018
Recruitment end date
01/09/2020
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Transport Research Laboratory
Crowthorne House
Nine Mile Ride
Wokingham
RG40 3GA
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
Department for Transport
Sponsor details
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Rd
Westminster
London
SW1P 4DR
United Kingdom
+44 (0)3003303000
Catherine.Mottram@dft.gov.uk
Sponsor type
Government
Website
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
Department for Transport
Alternative name(s)
Adran am Drafnidiaeth, DfT
Funding Body Type
government organisation
Funding Body Subtype
National government
Location
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
A single overall report will be produced for the project, as a TRL/DfT published report.
IPD sharing statement:
The current data sharing plans for this study are unknown and will be available at a later date.
Intention to publish date
01/03/2022
Participant level data
To be made available at a later date
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list