Increasing Seat Belt Wearing and Decreasing Handheld Phone Use While Driving

The research team will use psychology and communications research to present information about seat belts and distracted driving in a way that builds intrinsic motivation to change. Because positively framed messages are more effective at promoting seat belt wearing, the team's messaging will employ this framing. Education will address common reasons that survey participants give for not consistently buckling up or for phone use while driving.

Participants will receive an intervention on improving driving behavior with a specific goal in mind and how to reach that goal. Participants will do this by thinking through 4 parts: a wish, an outcome, an obstacle and a plan. This has been shown to build motivation, and help achieve the desired change.

Participants will receive weekly text-message tips, informed by findings from survey responses, plus reminders to address stated obstacles.

Each week, participants who adhere to seat belt use or abstain from phone use while driving get a chance at prize money. One winner will be randomly chosen for each target behavior and earn prize money; the rest will not receive compensation.

This will be identical to the raffle incentive, except that each week participants who adhere to seat belt use or abstain from phone use while driving will be guaranteed an equal share of prize money.

Participants will receive a support SMS to troubleshoot, etc. if the Way to Drive app is not collecting trip data.

Those who have a perfect streak going midway through each week will receive an additional encouraging message cheering them on.