An evidence-based intervention has been shown over time to be effective in meeting its goals, through various trials, peer-reviewed testing, and statistical analysis. This sections attempts to identify evidence-based interventions which have helped to reduce vehicular crashes.
What theory or beliefs are these interventions based on?
- Health Belief Model is the theoretical basis of these interventions. This model focuses on:
- Susceptibility
- Belief in personal risk of disease–>a person must believe that they could drive while distracted
- Severity
- Belief that consequences would be serious–> a person must believe that they could be seriously injured in a car accident resulting from distracted driving
- Perceived benefits
- Belief in positive results of preventive action–>a person must believe that if they drive and are not participating in distracting behavior, they will not be involved in an accident that could have been avoided
- Perceived barriers
- Belief in negative results of prevention action or difficulties taking action–> not answering their phone during an emergency because they are driving could be a perceived barrier or that they have to transport people in their car for certain occasions
- Self-efficacy
- Belief in own ability to take action–> a person must believe that they could not touch their cell phone or be distracted by people in the car
- Additional Construct
- Cues to action
- External event that motivates or reminds a person to act
- Cues to action
- Susceptibility
Who benefits?
- Groups that have benefitted from this intervention are young inexperience drivers between the ages of 16-18 years old who are affected by these restricted driving guidelines included in the law. The Graduated Drivers License Program allows these teenagers to gain driving experience in a low risk setting so that they can improve their driving skills and then can advance to a non-restrictive license.