Case Studies

Minnesota and Wisconsin Test Results

In early 2006, young drivers from 54 families in Minnesota and Wisconsin were enrolled in a test project. After nine months in the program, teens averaged a 70% decrease in the frequency and severity of high-risk driving events. The root causes for events were typically a failure to stay focused on the driving environment, failure to maintain safe following distances and excessive speed. Parents reviewed driving mishaps with their teens and coached them to improve their driving habits. In addition, within the first six weeks of the program seatbelt use by drivers and passengers improved from 50% to nearly 100%. Most notable in the test project was teen driver support for the program. Repeatedly, teens were surprised to see how their actions contributed to risky events. At the moment of the event they frequently attributed the problem to another driver's actions but the video objectively showed their contribution – being distracted, following too closely or driving aggressively.

University of Iowa Study

Under a basic research grant funded by American Family Insurance and DriveCam, the University of Iowa studied the effect of video feedback using DriveCam technology on a group of 25 rural high school teens in Iowa. Results indicate that the riskiest drivers in the study reduced their unsafe driving by 88%--in just a little more than a month of coaching and feedback. In January 2007, the study logged more than 180,000 miles of driving. Over two-thirds of the drivers in the study do not trigger the system at all. The remaining third triggered the system only a few times a week. Preliminary results of the University of Iowa Study can be viewed here.

Because of these favorable results, additional research in Minneapolis studying urban teens began in mid-2007.

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