title: Distracted Driving in Teens With and Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
abstract: 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).
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham University Transportation Center, Community Health Services Building-19, Birmingham, AL; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Psychology, Birmingham, AL. Electronic address: dstavrin@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stavrinos
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham University Transportation Center, Community Health Services Building-19, Birmingham, AL.
authors.forename: Annie A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham University Transportation Center, Community Health Services Building-19, Birmingham, AL.
authors.forename: Crystal A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Psychology, Birmingham, AL.
authors.forename: Haley D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham University Transportation Center, Community Health Services Building-19, Birmingham, AL.
authors.forename: Sharon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Welburn
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham University Transportation Center, Community Health Services Building-19, Birmingham, AL; University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Birmingham, AL.
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham University Transportation Center, Community Health Services Building-19, Birmingham, AL.
authors.forename: Andrea T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Underhill
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham University Transportation Center, Community Health Services Building-19, Birmingham, AL; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Medicine, Birmingham, AL.
authors.forename: Philip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Fine
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000071826:Distracted Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: ADHD; Distracted driving; Motor vehicle; Pediatrics