This research report examines how attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can impact distraction and driving safety in teens, using naturalistic driving study data to analyze the frequency of eyes-off-the-road (EOR) instances.
Status: Complete (report published 9/24/2025)
The report, Teen Driving Performance Associated with Distraction, ADHD, and Other Risk Factors, uses naturalistic driving study data to analyze the frequency of EOR instances and the impact on crash risk for teenage drivers with and without ADHD. When teens look away from the road for more than two seconds, their crash risk increases nearly fivefold.
This study is one of the first to fully investigate the prevalence of teen drivers’ EOR behaviors and the associated impact on the risk of crashes and near-crashes. The report concludes that teen drivers with ADHD tend to look away from the road more frequently and may be at an elevated risk for missed hazards. Notably, they found no measurable difference in EOR-related crash risk between teens with and without ADHD.
These findings can help inform teen and novice driver programs run by State Highway Safety Offices and their partners. The research highlights the continued need to focus on reducing distractions for young drivers, especially during the first months of independent driving, when they are most vulnerable.
