Opportunity   

In 2021, over 20 million drivers in the United States obtained usage-based insurance (UBI) policies that enable customers to earn discounts on their premiums based on safe driving habits - which are tracked through smartphone telematics apps.    

Smartphone telematics apps use data algorithms to measure risky driving behaviors like hand-held phone use, speeding, hard braking, and fast acceleration. As a result, they hold great promise for studying and improving driving behavior on a meaningful scale. 

Intervention  

We are working in partnership with the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAA FTS) to implement a nationwide randomized trial to determine whether evidence-based strategies for promoting safer driving can be optimized by tailoring the scope of feedback and the selection of goals for behavior change. Specifically, we will focus on strategies that seek to reduce distraction, speeding, hard braking, and fast acceleration.   

For this study, we will use Way to Drive, our homegrown smartphone telematics app.   

Impact  

Planning for this study is underway with hopes to launch in early 2023.