Executive Functioning as a Predictor of Adverse Driving Outcomes in Teen Drivers With ADHD

OBJECTIVE: The present study examined the association between executive functioning (EF) and risky driving behaviors in teens with ADHD. METHOD: Teens diagnosed with ADHD (<em>n</em>&thinsp;=&thinsp;179; <em>M</em>_age&thinsp;=&thinsp;17.4&thinsp;years) completed two 15-min drives in a fixed-base driving simulator. EF was assessed using parent- and self-report Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF-2), a temporal reproduction task, and a Go/No-Go task (GNG). Driving outcomes included known predictors of crashes: count of long (&gt;2&thinsp;s) off-road glances, standard deviation (SD) of lane position (SDLP), mean speed, and SD speed. Generalized linear mixed models, controlling for intelligence and driving experience, were conducted. RESULTS: Higher rates of GNG commission errors predicted higher rates of long off-road glances. Lower parent-rated EF and increased rates of GNG omission errors predicted SDLP. Higher rates of GNG commission errors also predicted faster average driving speed. CONCLUSION: Heterogeneity in EF is associated with differences in teen ADHD risky driving behaviors.