Key Takeaways
- 40% of U.S. adults report having driven while distracted at least once in the past month
- 8.7% of U.S. adults reported driving while using a hand-held cellphone in the past month
- 2.8% of U.S. adults reported driving while texting in the past month
- In a 2010 meta-analysis, ADHD was associated with an increased risk of traffic accidents and traffic violations (pooled relative risk reported as 1.58)
- In a cohort study, childhood ADHD was associated with increased risk of having a driver’s license (hazard ratio reported as 0.99)
- A nationwide Swedish register study reported ADHD increased risk of being involved in serious traffic accidents (reported hazard ratio 2.16)
- Medication status influenced crash risk in ADHD: stimulant treatment reduced crash risk (relative risk reported 0.55)
- A study found that ADHD medication was associated with reduced risk of motor vehicle accidents (RR 0.68)
- Another cohort found stimulant treatment associated with reduced injuries from crashes (RR 0.75)
- In a cohort study, people with ADHD had higher rates of comorbid substance use (reported prevalence 21%)
- In a meta-analysis, ADHD is associated with increased odds of substance use disorder (pooled OR 2.07)
- A review reported ADHD comorbidity with conduct disorder in 25% of cases (percent)
ADHD drivers face higher distracted, speeding, accident, and near-miss risks; treatments help.
Prevalence of ADHD-related risk
Prevalence of ADHD-related risk Interpretation
Safety outcomes & accident risk
Safety outcomes & accident risk Interpretation
Treatment & mitigation
Treatment & mitigation Interpretation
Contributing factors & comorbidities
Contributing factors & comorbidities Interpretation
References
- 1cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/data/distracted-driving.html
- 2cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html
- 3cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db132.htm
- 15cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired-driving/impaired-driving-factsheet.html
- 16cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/speed/index.html
- 17cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/factsheet/factsheet.html
- 18cdc.gov/transportation/child-safety-seat-use.html
- 48cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/factsheet/injury.html
- 49cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/factsheet/dl.htm
- 108cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/seatbelts/factsheet.html
- 109cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired-driving/index.html
- 4pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31346449/
- 5pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33597329/
- 6pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29197754/
- 7pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23392671/
- 8pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26254962/
- 22pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20580847/
- 23pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26165478/
- 24pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25786828/
- 25pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22832120/
- 26pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24656034/
- 27pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23644436/
- 28pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24945805/
- 29pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27091190/
- 30pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29068367/
- 31pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24010634/
- 32pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25972386/
- 33pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23389583/
- 34pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22131173/
- 35pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21588474/
- 36pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28079147/
- 37pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27697589/
- 38pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22303701/
- 39pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21606678/
- 40pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26879376/
- 41pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28871827/
- 42pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29680310/
- 43pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27830716/
- 44pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27368119/
- 45pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24582056/
- 46pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23622022/
- 57pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19714375/
- 58pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21128332/
- 59pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26379066/
- 60pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29300831/
- 61pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25291129/
- 62pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30651344/
- 63pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22542034/
- 64pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28724089/
- 65pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23219070/
- 66pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31172609/
- 67pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25169068/
- 68pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23453662/
- 73pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16099809/
- 74pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20049893/
- 75pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11117506/
- 76pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8614474/
- 79pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25260394/
- 80pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22341976/
- 81pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20442550/
- 82pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19004544/
- 83pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23564706/
- 84pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22006710/
- 85pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18258172/
- 86pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26876769/
- 90pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24503908/
- 91pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28966903/
- 92pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23259608/
- 93pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26550863/
- 94pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23805848/
- 95pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26767786/
- 96pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25017914/
- 97pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28681159/
- 98pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29515513/
- 99pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21974554/
- 100pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24015400/
- 101pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25449457/
- 102pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25928837/
- 103pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26171607/
- 9nhts.ornl.gov/2017/overview.shtml
- 13nhts.ornl.gov/2017/summary-of-findings.shtml
- 10bts.gov/content/drivers-and-licenses
- 11bts.gov/content/us-passenger-travel-mode-share
- 12fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2021/mvm/part2c.cfm
- 14crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813250
- 19crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812809
- 50crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813234
- 51crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813477
- 52crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812810
- 53crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812548
- 54crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813198
- 55crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812600
- 20nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving
- 69nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/GDL_Policy_Brief.pdf
- 70nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2020-03/Seat%20Belt%20Use%20Interventions.pdf
- 71nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2022-09/Speed%20Enforcement%20Programs.pdf
- 72nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2020-03/Distracted%20Driving%20Campaigns.pdf
- 87nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/estimating-crash-reduction-effects-of-automated-vehicle-technologies.pdf
- 88nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/driver-monitoring-systems.pdf
- 89nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/distracted-driving-and-driver-assistance.pdf
- 104nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/fatigued-driving
- 105nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/alcohol-impaired-driving
- 106nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding
- 107nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/seat-belt-use-boosting-safety-belt-use.pdf
- 21nsc.org/safety/safety-glossary/drugged-driving
- 47nsc.org/work/solutions/road-safety/reporting/safety-facts/distracted-driving
- 56who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries
- 77nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87
- 78publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/128/5/1007/30396/American-Academy-of-Pediatrics






