A recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) has shed light on effective strategies to reduce handheld phone use among drivers, highlighting the importance of engaging performance feedback and modest financial incentives. The study tested various interventions aimed at creating sustained behavior change in phone use habits while driving.
Participants in the study were given different interventions, including phone mounts, commitment exercises, and habit tips. Surprisingly, these interventions alone did not significantly reduce handheld phone use. However, when weekly gamified goals and social competition were introduced, there was a notable decrease in handheld phone use, indicating that interactive performance feedback plays a crucial role in altering behavior.
The most significant reduction in handheld phone use came from combining gamified goals and social competition with modest financial incentives. Participants who received these incentives—averaging $6 for gamified goals and $5 for social competition—showed a 28% decrease in handheld phone use compared to the control group. This decrease was observed even after the incentives and feedback ended, suggesting that these methods fostered a lasting change in driving behavior.
The study’s design had several limitations. First, the opt-in nature of the study means it is unclear how well these interventions would perform if applied on a broader scale. Participants who chose to enroll may have been more inclined to alter their driving behavior or more receptive to receiving text messages encouraging change. Additionally, the study’s design was additive, making it difficult to determine the specific impact of each intervention. For instance, while a phone mount alone did not significantly reduce handheld use, it might still be essential for facilitating a shift from handheld to hands-free usage. Future research using a factorial design could provide clearer insights into the independent and combined effects of these interventions.
Another limitation was the duration of monitoring, which was limited to the period of participants’ insurance rating (25 to 65 days). Thus, the long-term persistence of behavior change beyond this period remains unknown.
With American drivers spending an average of 310 hours annually behind the wheel—totaling 70 billion hours across the population—the potential impact of reducing handheld phone use is substantial. A long-term, 90-second-per-hour reduction in handheld phone use could result in nearly 2 billion fewer hours of distracted driving per year. Given that approximately 60,000 crashes annually are attributed to phone use distractions, a 28% reduction in the most distracting phone usage could potentially prevent around 16,000 crashes.
The study suggests that Universal Basic Income (UBI) programs, which already offer rewards for reducing phone use while driving, could serve as a promising channel for scaling these behavioral interventions. By leveraging such programs, it may be possible to foster more widespread adoption of strategies that promote focused driving and enhance road safety.
