Eventually, your ADHD child will want to learn how to drive, and it’s no surprise that statistically, people with attention difficulties have an increased risk of unsafe driving habits. Experts believe these unsafe habits may stem from the typical symptoms of ADHD such as impulsive behavior, easy distractibility, lack of concentration, and varied regulation of responses. For some patients, ADHD behavior modification therapy has been shown to improve the high-risk symptoms of ADHD, but parents should still be aware of the behaviors that could endanger a teenager’s driving skills. As you teach your ADHD teenager to drive, watch out for the following warning signs:

• Failure to observe signs and signals
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Poor eye/hand/foot coordination
• Failure to observe all areas around the car
• Slow response
• Inappropriate speeds
• Easy distraction by conversation, sights, sounds, etc.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, ADHD teenagers experience nearly four times as many automobile accidents during their first 2 to 5 years of driving. The ADHD teenager also receives three times more citations for speeding than his or her non-ADHD peers.

Since driving is a complex activity requiring many demands on a person’s attention, ADHD teens may need extra help and instruction while they learn the rules of the road. Enroll your teen in driving rehabilitation classes, and find a class especially for people with ADHD, if possible. A professional driving school should be able to help you locate the most appropriate class or classes for your teenager.