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 their 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.
The study analyzed naturalistic driving data to measure the frequency of eyes‑off‑the‑road (EOR) behavior among teens with and without ADHD. Using real‑world driving footage, the research assessed how long and how often teens diverted their attention and how those distractions contributed to crashes and near‑crashes.
The findings show that when teens look away from the road for more than two seconds, their crash risk increases nearly fivefold. The study also found that teen drivers with ADHD tend to look away more frequently and may be at higher risk for missed hazards. However, researchers observed no measurable difference in EOR‑related crash risk between teens with and without ADHD.
This report is one of the first to fully investigate the prevalence of EOR behavior among teen drivers and its impact on crash and near‑crash risk. The results can help State Highway Safety Offices and their partners strengthen teen and novice driver programs by focusing on distraction reduction, especially during the first months of independent driving.
Supplemental materials on the project page include technical memoranda on policy implications, strengths and limitations, future research and implementation guidance, as well as a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the findings.
