Just the Facts:

• Teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are poor drivers, often performing as if they were drunk.
• A University of Buffalo professor, working with a $2.8 million federal grant, is developing a driver-education program that targets ADHD drivers and their parents.
• The program features a driving simulator and onboard driving monitor that track driving behaviors, including top speed.

BUFFALO, new York — Teen drivers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are the new focus of safety advocates because they perform as poorly on simulated driving tests as drunk drivers. A University of Buffalo study is using such tools as onboard driving monitors to help improve their driving skills.

“Teens with ADHD are such risky drivers,” said Greg Fabiano, an associate professor at the University of Buffalo who is heading the study, in a phone interview with inside Line. “We have to do something to help them.”

One 2008 study showed that people with ADHD who were sober performed as poorly on simulated driving tests as drivers without ADHD who were legally drunk. The U.S. Department of Transportation is in the midst of a high-profile campaign against distracted driving.

Fabiano’s latest study, funded by a $2.8-million grant from the National Institutes of Health, uses an in-car device that monitors the teen’s driving behavior. It tracks top speed, as well as any instances of hard acceleration and braking. The teen drivers also sign a contract with their parents that rewards good driving behavior and penalizes poor driving.

“The teens actually like this (onboard) monitor because it demonstrates that they are obeying the contract, which often leads to more privileges,” said Fabiano.

The study won’t be completed for several more years. But families appear to like the approach, which includes retraining parents to stop screaming at teens from the backseat to control poor driving habits.

ADHD affects about 7 percent of the U.S. population. It is called one of the most common psychiatric disorders, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is distinguished by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

Inside Line says: The distracted driving push even targets teens with ADHD. — Rene Wisely, Correspondent