This report describes intervention effects on parent-imposed driving limits on novice young drivers at time of licensure. Parent-adolescent dyads (4344) completed baseline surveys and were randomly assigned to intervention or comparison groups at permit. Intervention families received persuasive communications related to threat appraisal regarding high-risk adolescent driving and coping appraisal regarding restrictions on high risk driving conditions during the early months of adolescent licensure, while comparison families received standard information on driver safety. Of the 4344 families, 3786 adolescents obtained licenses. This report uses data from the 3398 parent-adolescent dyads that completed license surveys. Significant treatment group differences favoring the Checkpoints Program were found at licensure for driving limits, perceived risk, expected limits, and outcome expectations. Perceived risk and outcome expectations partially mediated and expected limits fully mediated treatment effects. The results provide evidence that persuasive materials can alter threat and coping appraisal and expected limits and doing so mediates parent-imposed driving limits at licensure. (Author/publisher) See also C 36306 fo.
Abstract