Adolescent and parent dyad perceptions on the utility and implementation ability to use cellphone-based technology to reduce distracted driving in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

The issue: Losing focus while driving, including cellphone-based distractions, is a prominent problem for adolescent drivers.

The question: How do parents and their children feel about cellphone-based technologies designed to reduce distractions?

3 themes emerged from interviews with parents and adolescents:

(1) Cellphone-based technologies can be feasibly implemented as distracted driving interventions.

(2) Cellphone-based technologies can be a learning tool for newly licensed adolescent drivers to form better habits.

(3) Cellphone-based technologies by themselves are not sufficient for long-term behavior change.

Takeaway: Cellphone-based technologies have their purpose, especially for younger drivers, to help form good habits and reduce distractions. By themselves, they are not going to be the reason for eliminating distracted driving in adolescents or have long-term behavior change. They can be most successful when combined with other interventions aimed at reducing distracted driving.