ADHD and Driving: Risks and Safety Strategies

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRisks Associated With ADHD and DrivingStrategies to Help Reduce ADHD and Driving Risks

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Risks Associated With ADHD and Driving

Strategies to Help Reduce ADHD and Driving Risks

Research has shown that teenagers and adults withattention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)tend to be at an increased risk of driving impairments. This is not surprising given the coresymptoms of ADHD—including distractibility, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness—which can impede safe driving and often lead to severe accidents.

One study found that drivers with ADHD had a 45% to 47% increased rate of severe transport accidents (defined as serious injury or death) compared to drivers without ADHD in both men and women.In this study, investigators also explored how ADHD medication influences risks among subjects with ADHD.

In this article, we’ll learn howADHD medicationuse may reduce rates of accidents and other strategies to ensure safety for drivers with ADHD.

Many drivers with ADHD find they have difficulty maintaining vigilance and keeping their minds focused while on the road.

Stimulation-seeking behaviors, including driving at high speeds, curving aggressively, any risk-taking behaviors—can further impede safety. Even impatience while driving, which can sometimes escalate to angry reactions, like road rage, seems to be more prevalent inadults with ADHD.

Below are five strategies to consider to reduce driving risks associated with ADHD:

Take Any Prescribed ADHD Medication

Medication has been shown to be effective in improving driving performance in adults with ADHD.

If you have been prescribed medicine to help with ADHD symptoms, it is important that you are diligent about taking your medicine on a schedule that ensures you have adequate levels of medicine in your bloodstream when you are most likely to be driving—for example, in the morning to work and during the late afternoon route home.

Reduce Distractions

Remove all potential distractions from within the car. Turn off the cell phone and put it out of reach so that you aren’t tempted to use it while driving. Avoid eating while driving. Adjust the radio, heat/air conditioning, mirrors, etc. only while the car is stopped.

Let passengers know what is most helpful for you to maintain focus. It may be that you prefer not to engage in conversations while the vehicle is moving.

Drive a Car With a Manual Transmission

Consider whether you are a more attentive driver when using a manual transmission, as opposed to an automatic. Use of a manual transmission has been demonstrated to be associated with greater arousal.Adults (and children) with ADHD tend to be more productive and focused when an activity is involving and engaging.

For some people with ADHD shifting gears manually while driving provides a positive level of stimulation that is helpful in maintaining focus.

Never Drink and Drive

Buckle Up

Always wear your seatbelt. Make this part of your routine as soon as you get in the car. If you need to put a brightly colored sticky note on your dashboard as a reminder, do so.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zheng Chang, Ph.D.; Paul Lichtenstein, Ph.D.; Brian M. D’Onofrio, Ph.D.; Arvid Sjölander, Ph.D.; Henrik Larsson, Ph.D.Serious Transport Accidents in Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and the Effect of Medication: A Population-Based Study,JAMA Psychiatry. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.4174.Deshmukh P, Patel D.Driving and road rage associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Adhd): a systematic review.Curr Dev Disord Rep. 2019;6(4):241-247.Randell NJS, Charlton SG, Starkey NJ.Driving with ADHD: performance effects and environment demand in traffic.J Atten Disord. 2020;24(11):1570-1580.Cox DJ, Punja M, Powers K, Merkel RL, Burket R, Moore M, Thorndike F, Kovatchev B.Manual Transmission Enhances Attention and Driving Performance of ADHD Adolescent Males Pilot Study,Journal of Attention Disorders,2006 Nov;10(2):212-6.Additional ReadingCraig Surman, MD, and Tim Bilkey, MD.Fast Minds: How to Thrive If You Have ADHD (or Think You Might), Berkley Books 2013.Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D.Taking Charge of Adult ADHD. Guilford Press 2010.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zheng Chang, Ph.D.; Paul Lichtenstein, Ph.D.; Brian M. D’Onofrio, Ph.D.; Arvid Sjölander, Ph.D.; Henrik Larsson, Ph.D.Serious Transport Accidents in Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and the Effect of Medication: A Population-Based Study,JAMA Psychiatry. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.4174.Deshmukh P, Patel D.Driving and road rage associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Adhd): a systematic review.Curr Dev Disord Rep. 2019;6(4):241-247.Randell NJS, Charlton SG, Starkey NJ.Driving with ADHD: performance effects and environment demand in traffic.J Atten Disord. 2020;24(11):1570-1580.Cox DJ, Punja M, Powers K, Merkel RL, Burket R, Moore M, Thorndike F, Kovatchev B.Manual Transmission Enhances Attention and Driving Performance of ADHD Adolescent Males Pilot Study,Journal of Attention Disorders,2006 Nov;10(2):212-6.Additional ReadingCraig Surman, MD, and Tim Bilkey, MD.Fast Minds: How to Thrive If You Have ADHD (or Think You Might), Berkley Books 2013.Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D.Taking Charge of Adult ADHD. Guilford Press 2010.

Zheng Chang, Ph.D.; Paul Lichtenstein, Ph.D.; Brian M. D’Onofrio, Ph.D.; Arvid Sjölander, Ph.D.; Henrik Larsson, Ph.D.Serious Transport Accidents in Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and the Effect of Medication: A Population-Based Study,JAMA Psychiatry. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.4174.Deshmukh P, Patel D.Driving and road rage associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Adhd): a systematic review.Curr Dev Disord Rep. 2019;6(4):241-247.Randell NJS, Charlton SG, Starkey NJ.Driving with ADHD: performance effects and environment demand in traffic.J Atten Disord. 2020;24(11):1570-1580.Cox DJ, Punja M, Powers K, Merkel RL, Burket R, Moore M, Thorndike F, Kovatchev B.Manual Transmission Enhances Attention and Driving Performance of ADHD Adolescent Males Pilot Study,Journal of Attention Disorders,2006 Nov;10(2):212-6.

Deshmukh P, Patel D.Driving and road rage associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Adhd): a systematic review.Curr Dev Disord Rep. 2019;6(4):241-247.

Randell NJS, Charlton SG, Starkey NJ.Driving with ADHD: performance effects and environment demand in traffic.J Atten Disord. 2020;24(11):1570-1580.

Cox DJ, Punja M, Powers K, Merkel RL, Burket R, Moore M, Thorndike F, Kovatchev B.Manual Transmission Enhances Attention and Driving Performance of ADHD Adolescent Males Pilot Study,Journal of Attention Disorders,2006 Nov;10(2):212-6.

Craig Surman, MD, and Tim Bilkey, MD.Fast Minds: How to Thrive If You Have ADHD (or Think You Might), Berkley Books 2013.Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D.Taking Charge of Adult ADHD. Guilford Press 2010.

Craig Surman, MD, and Tim Bilkey, MD.Fast Minds: How to Thrive If You Have ADHD (or Think You Might), Berkley Books 2013.

Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D.Taking Charge of Adult ADHD. Guilford Press 2010.

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Take Any Prescribed ADHD Medication#

Reduce Distractions#

Drive a Car With a Manual Transmission#

Never Drink and Drive#

Buckle Up#

Take Any Prescribed ADHD Medication

Reduce Distractions

Drive a Car With a Manual Transmission

Never Drink and Drive

Buckle Up