Evaluation of a Prototype Safer Teen Car

This document describes the methods, findings, and recommendations by the University of Minnesota on the practicality and benefits of a system that can provide real-time driver feedback to teen drivers. A prototype Safer Teen Car (STC) system was developed and served as the basis for a field evaluation and as a demonstration unit for stakeholder groups. The STC designed for this project was comprised of a number of interrelated subsystems, including: teen driver identification subsystem; seat belt detection & enhanced reminder subsystem; passenger presence subsystem; speed monitoring & feedback subsystem; excessive maneuver & feedback subsystem; cell phone use detection & mitigation subsystem; and driving context subsystem. The findings generally showed improved safety behavior when the STC system provided feedback. For example, the reduction in the per-mile rate of excessive maneuvers was statistically significant at night, but not during the day. In general, the results indicated reductions in the rates of speeding, excessive maneuvers, and seat belt nonuse. Overall, the STC was viewed as useful and safety-enhancing, by both teens and parents. Both teens and parents agreed that the STC changed the teens’ driving behavior. Parents would generally recommend the STC to other parents.