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Checkpoints Program

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

The Checkpoints Program helps teen drivers and their parents reduce risky driving behaviors. Crash rates among teenagers are elevated during the first months of licensure; parent-imposed restrictions on initial driving privileges can reduce exposure to high-risk driving conditions and reduce crash risk while driving proficiency develops. Through the program, parents are encouraged to set limits on their newly licensed teens. Families receive persuasive educational materials through the mail, including newsletters and a video to establish expectations for parental restrictions and emphasize the benefits of adopting a parent-teen driving agreement. This agreement helps parents set driving rules, consequences of violating rules, and markers of experience and success. Examples of driving limits include night driving, teen passengers, and other factors that contribute to risky driving. The program fosters communication between parents and their adolescent children about driving.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the Checkpoints Program is to encourage parental limits on teen driving, and decrease risky teen driving.

Impact

The Checkpoints Program increased the rate at which parents placed greater limits on high-risk teen driving conditions and decreased traffic violations among teens.

Results / Accomplishments

A randomized controlled trial was used to compare families in the Checkpoints Program with comparison families receiving general information on driving and vehicle maintenance. Teens and parents in the intervention program reported significantly greater limits on high-risk teen driving conditions at licensure and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups when compared to control families (p < 0.05). Teens in the intervention group reported significantly less risky driving at each reporting period than teens in the control group (p < 0.01). By the 12-month follow-up teens in the intervention group were significantly less likely than those in the comparison group to have a traffic violation (p < 0.01). No significant effect was found for crashes.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Center for Teen Safe Driving
Primary Contact
Center for Teen Safe Driving
Department of Motor Vehicles
60 State Street
Wethersfield, CT 06161
(860) 263-5735
teen.driving@ct.gov
http://www.ct.gov/teendriving/site/default.asp
Topics
Community / Public Safety
Health / Adolescent Health
Community / Transportation
Organization(s)
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Center for Teen Safe Driving
Source
Accident Analysis and Prevention
Date of publication
Sep 2006
Date of implementation
2001
Location
Connecticut
For more details
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16620739?itool=...
Target Audience
Teens

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  4. Driving Decisions Workbook
  5. Massachusetts Click It or Ticket Campaign
  6. Buckle Up, Stay Safe

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Related Content for: Checkpoints Program

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.
Greater Hampton Roads