Are people with ADHD more likely to have car accidents?
A 2026 review found untreated adults with ADHD crashed more often, and one study said medications could have prevented 22% of crashes.
- A JAMA Pediatrics study found teen and young adult drivers with ADHD were 36% more likely to get into car accidents compared to peers without the condition.
- David Goodman, M.D., director of the Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Center of Maryland, says inattentiveness reduces awareness of road signs and changing conditions, while impulsivity triggers emotional reactivity and dangerous maneuvers.
- A study of adults ages 65 to 79 found those with ADHD were 74% more likely to crash. Research shows 22% of crashes could have been avoided if participants had used medication, though only 12.1% were medicated.
- Goodman advises stashing phones in glove compartments or using apps like DriveOff and DriveScribe to lock devices while driving. Apple and Android phones offer built-in "do not disturb" features for drivers.
- Sheila Charlie Klauer, Ph.D., leader of the Applied Driver Assessment Performance and Training Group at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, explains drivers with ADHD focus better on complex roads. Long, flat routes can trigger "highway hypnosis.
42 Articles
42 Articles
Are people with ADHD more likely to have car accidents? - The Mexico Ledger
Are people with ADHD more likely to have car accidents?Driving is full of distractions, from cellphones to other drivers on the road. But for adults and teens dealing with symptoms of ADHD, like inattention and impulsivity, those disruptions can make driving especially risky.On average, adult drivers with ADHD in one study got into a crash every two years, and people with severe ADHD symptoms averaged one accident a year. A large study in JAMA P…
Are people with ADHD more likely to have car accidents? - Stateline Publications
Are people with ADHD more likely to have car accidents?Driving is full of distractions, from cellphones to other drivers on the road. But for adults and teens dealing with symptoms of ADHD, like inattention and impulsivity, those disruptions can make driving especially risky.On average, adult drivers with ADHD in one study got into a crash every two years, and people with severe ADHD symptoms averaged one accident a year. A large study in JAMA P…
Are people with ADHD more likely to have car accidents? - Hillsboro Sentry Enterprise
Are people with ADHD more likely to have car accidents?Driving is full of distractions, from cellphones to other drivers on the road. But for adults and teens dealing with symptoms of ADHD, like inattention and impulsivity, those disruptions can make driving especially risky.On average, adult drivers with ADHD in one study got into a crash every two years, and people with severe ADHD symptoms averaged one accident a year. A large study in JAMA P…
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