Purpose: We critically reviewed recent parent-directed teen driving interventions to summarize their success in meeting stated goals; identify promising intervention components and knowledge gaps; aid in the selection, adaptation, and dissemination of effective interventions; and guide future research efforts.
Methods: We focused on interventions that included a direct parent component, explicitly stated outcomes related to the teen and/or their parents, were evaluated for parent or teen outcomes, targeted drivers younger than the age of 21 years, and had at least one evaluation study published since 1990 and in English. We conducted a comprehensive systematic search of 26 online databases between November 2013 and January 2014 and identified 34 articles representing 18 interventions.
Results: Several interventions-in particular, those that had an active engagement component, incorporated an in-vehicle data recorder system, and had a strong conceptual approach-show promise in improving parental supervisory behaviors during the learner and early independent phases, increasing teen driver skill acquisition, and reducing teens' risky driving behaviors.
Conclusions: We identify essential characteristics of effective parent-involved teen driving interventions and their evaluation studies, propose a comprehensive and multitiered approach to intervention, and discuss several research areas and overarching issues for consideration.
Keywords: Adolescent; Graduated driver licensing (GDL); Motor vehicle crash; Novice driver restrictions; Parent-teen interactions; Supervised practice driving; Teen driver programs.
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