Behavioral Interventions to Increase Seatbelt Use and Decrease Distracted Driving
Project status
Innovation leads
Funding
General Motors
External partners
Kelsey Bartolozzi
Nicole Trevino
Katie DeGraaf
Opportunity
Using a cell phone while driving increases crash risk. And failing to use a seatbelt nearly doubles one's risk of death and injury if a collision occurs.
Intervention
We are working in partnership with General Motors (GM) to explore if interventions informed by behavioral science can reduce cell phone use and encourage drivers to buckle up.
GM customers with Gen 10 vehicles were recruited to participate in the study, and participants were randomly assigned to one of four arms. Intervention arms will test the effect of a mix of behavioral engagement strategies and financial incentives on driving behavior.
Driving behavior will be tracked by our homegrown smartphone telematics app, Way to Drive.
Impact
This study is currently underway. When the trial concludes, GM will adopt successful strategies to improve driver safety and reduce crash claims.