The authors read Dr. Kahn’s commentary “Youth Risk for Deadly Driving,” and although we generally agree with his characterization of the risk-taking behaviours of teen drivers, they would also like to draw attention to certain subpopulations of teens who are at particularly high risk for unsafe driving behaviours. Conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which affects 4% to 10% of the paediatric population, likely put new teenage drivers at risk for crashes and should result in driving restrictions until proper medical management is achieved. Teens with other higher-functioning developmental disabilities, such as mild autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities, may be interested in learning to drive, but their disabilities may be associated with impairments that may put them at risk for unsafe driving behaviours. Very few studies explore the learning-to-drive process and the driving outcomes of teens with these developmental disabilities. (Author/publisher)
Abstract