Preventing alcohol and cannabis-impaired driving among adolescents: effects of a web-intervention in a driver education program

INTRODUCTION: Adolescence is a critical period during which teens initiate and escalate substance use, as well as begin learning to drive. Limited research has evaluated programs to prevent impaired driving behaviors in this age group. We tested effects of adding a single‐session web intervention to existing driver education curriculum. METHODS: Driving school staff recruited participants aged 15.5 to 17 from 12 driver education programs. Participants were randomized to driver education only (usual care, 30 h) or driver education plus a single‐session web intervention (webCHAT, ∼30 min). Participants completed surveys at baseline and six months. RESULTS: The sample (N = 198) was 60% female, 80% White, and averaged 15.7 (SD = 0.8) years old. At baseline, 25% and 8% reported past three‐month alcohol and cannabis use, respectively, and 19% and 10% reported ever riding with someone under the influence of alcohol or cannabis, respectively. At follow‐up, webCHAT participants reported significantly lower perceived peer alcohol (‐1.14, 95% CI: ‐1.915, ‐0.372, p = 0.004) and cannabis (‐1.09, 95% CI: ‐1.866, ‐0.306, p = 0.007) use norms compared to usual care participants. Both webCHAT and usual care participants significantly reduced past month alcohol and cannabis use and viewed impaired driving as riskier and less acceptable at follow‐up. CONCLUSION: Driver education programs offer a unique opportunity to prevent substance use and impaired driving when adolescents are motivated to participate to secure their driver's license. These programs should continue updating curricula to reflect the state of science for alcohol and drug prevention. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04959461.