Distracted Driving in Teens With and Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: This study is among the first to examine the effect of talking on a cell phone or text messaging while driving in teens with and without attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: Teens (average age 17years) with a diagnosis of ADHD (N=16) were matched with typically developing controls (N=18). All participants operated a driving simulator while (1) conversing on a cell phone, (2) text messaging, and (3) with no distraction during a baseline condition. Six indicators of driving performance were recorded: (a) time to complete the drive; (b) lane deviations; (c) variability in lane position (i.e., root mean square [RMS]); (d) reaction time; (e) motor vehicle collisions; and, (f) speed fluctuation. RESULTS: Significantly greater variation in lane position occurred in the texting task compared to no task and the cell phone task. While texting, in particular, teens with ADHD took significantly less time to complete the scenario. No significant main effects of group were found. CONCLUSIONS: Generally, those with ADHD did not differ in regard to driving performance, when compared to controls, with the exception of one outcome: time to complete scenario. These findings suggest that distracted driving impairs driving performance of teen drivers, regardless of ADHD status. Texting while driving had the greatest negative impact on driving performance, particularly with regard to variability in lane position (i.e., RMS). This study sheds light on key issues regarding injury prevention, with the intent of providing pediatric care providers with the knowledge to inform teen drivers of risks associated with distracted driving which will ultimately result in reduced rates of motor vehicle crashes and concomitant injuries.

Symptom dimensions of disruptive behavior disorders in adolescent drivers.

OBJECTIVE: Adolescents with disruptive behavior disorder, including ADHD, are more likely to engage in risky driving practices and, consequently, are more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle crash (MVC) than their non-ADHD peers. It is unclear whether symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) increase risk of poor driving outcomes. METHOD: A total of 41 participants (16-19 years old) reported their ADHD and ODD symptoms and risky driving practices (errors and violations). History of citations and MVCs were acquired from state records. Relative predictive utility of symptom dimensions was assessed using multiple regressions. RESULTS: Inattention solely predicted driving variables of interest: Greater levels of inattention were predictive of more citations, MVCs, and self-reported errors and violations. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that symptoms of inattention play a primary role in driving-related problems among adolescents. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Impact of distracted driving on safety and traffic flow.

Studies have documented a link between distracted driving and diminished safety; however, an association between distracted driving and traffic congestion has not been investigated in depth. The present study examined the behavior of teens and young adults operating a driving simulator while engaged in various distractions (i.e., cell phone, texting, and undistracted) and driving conditions (i.e., free flow, stable flow, and oversaturation). Seventy five participants 16-25 years of age (split into 2 groups: novice drivers and young adults) drove a STISIM simulator three times, each time with one of three randomly presented distractions. Each drive was designed to represent daytime scenery on a 4 lane divided roadway and included three equal roadway portions representing Levels of Service (LOS) A, C, and E as defined in the 2000 Highway Capacity Manual. Participants also completed questionnaires documenting demographics and driving history. Both safety and traffic flow related driving outcomes were considered. A Repeated Measures Multivariate Analysis of Variance was employed to analyze continuous outcome variables and a Generalized Estimate Equation (GEE) Poisson model was used to analyze count variables. Results revealed that, in general more lane deviations and crashes occurred during texting. Distraction (in most cases, text messaging) had a significantly negative impact on traffic flow, such that participants exhibited greater fluctuation in speed, changed lanes significantly fewer times, and took longer to complete the scenario. In turn, more simulated vehicles passed the participant drivers while they were texting or talking on a cell phone than while undistracted. The results indicate that distracted driving, particularly texting, may lead to reduced safety and traffic flow, thus having a negative impact on traffic operations. No significant differences were detected between age groups, suggesting that all drivers, regardless of age, may drive in a manner that impacts safety and traffic flow negatively when distracted.