As April marks Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the pressing concern over road safety, particularly among young drivers in Texas, takes center stage. In 2022 alone, nearly one in six crashes on Texas roadways were attributed to distracted driving. This alarming trend resulted in the loss of 487 lives and left 2,824 individuals with serious injuries, according to data compiled by the Texas Department of Transportation. As smartphones and other technologies become readily available, the risks associated with distracted driving only escalate, emphasizing the urgent need for innovative solutions in data collection and driving down distracted driving.
Since its launch in October 2020, the You in the Driver Seat (YDS) app has revolutionized data collection efforts in combating distracted driving among young drivers. Developed by Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) Youth Transportation Safety (YTS) program — which seeks to save lives and prevent injury among youth through education, empowerment, and peer-led outreach — the YDS app promotes safe, distraction-free driving to individuals aged 16 – 25. By leveraging sophisticated tracking and scoring mechanisms, the YDS app monitors driving trips, capturing crucial insights into location data and distractions encountered during journeys. This wealth of data is then analyzed to provide valuable feedback and inform strategies for mitigating distracted driving risks.
It’s important to note that privacy is paramount in the realm of data collection, and the YDS app prioritizes user confidentiality. With a steadfast commitment to safeguarding user information, TTI ensures that all data collected by the app is securely managed and protected from unauthorized access or commercial exploitation.
Through its implementation, the YDS app has facilitated an estimated 324 days of distraction-free driving, providing researchers with invaluable insights into driving behavior patterns and risk factors. With its user-friendly interface and innovative features, the app has garnered significant traction, boasting 244 active users in Texas as of February 21, 2024. The 244 active users in Texas have collectively completed 21,412 scored trips. Analysis of the data reveals that shorter driving trips have a higher frequency of Safe Trips compared to longer ones, hinting at potential challenges users face in maintaining focus during extended periods of driving. Findings also indicate that long-term users of the app exhibited a 31 percent higher Safe Trip percentage and scored an average Trip Score 14 percent higher than short-term users, indicating a positive shift towards responsible driving behaviors among frequent, long-term users.
“Despite these encouraging findings, our data also found that 67 percent of all driving trips by app users in Texas included a distraction on their cell phone and/or a speeding event,” says Christine Yager, TTI project specialist II and lead data analyst of the YDS app. “It’s no question that distracted driving is a pressing issue in Texas, but this app is more than just a tool; it’s part of a solution that focuses on curbing distracted driving among youth and promoting safe habits behind the wheel.”
The YDS app empowers young drivers with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the roads safely, and not only enhances road safety in Texas but also paves the way for a brighter, safer future on all roadways.
For researchers seeking to delve deeper into the innovative capabilities of the YDS app and its implications for road safety research, further information is available on the apps homepage or through direct contact with Christine Yager.