How tailored learning and personal insight—especially for drivers with ADHD—can shift the conversation and save lives
April is recognized as Distracted Driving Awareness Month by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. We all know not to drive distracted, and from a learning perspective, there are good intentions behind content telling people to drive responsibly. But on my daily runs, I still see people on their phones everywhere I go.
The National Safety Council estimates that in 2024, there were 44,680 motor vehicle deaths—nearly identical to the revised count of 44,762 in 2023. Given my work in transportation and logistics, the thought of someone glancing at their phone for even a second while driving an 80,000-pound vehicle is horrifying.
The truth is, you could be looking down longer than you realize—and anyone on the road can be impacted. On February 27, 2018, in Washington County, Minnesota, Sam Hicks received a text from his girlfriend. Sam slammed into a stopped car at 63 miles per hour, killing the driver. His wrong choice to look down at the text led to a fatal outcome in only eight seconds.
Researcher from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in 2023 investigated the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and crash risk in older adult drivers. They found that drivers with ADHD were at 74 percent higher risk of being involved in crashes than those without the condition. A study by The Ohio State University found that 25 percent of U.S. adults suspect they are undiagnosed. Those in the logistics and transportation companies may be surprised at how many drivers and office workers are impacted by ADHD.
Education must be individualized, and the area of distracted driving is no exception. As a learning scientist, my understanding of the brain’s diversity sparked my curiosity about how individuals with ADHD perceive distracted driving and respond to statistics like these. This curiosity was further piqued when two of my clients, both driver safety managers, shared that they had ADHD diagnoses. I reached out to Simon Arnold, host of AUDHD Me & Mo The Podcast, to gain a different perspective and ask for any recommendations for truck drivers.
Tools and techniques
Simple cognitive behavioral strategies, like observing one’s breath or thoughts, can boost situational awareness while driving. Taking a few minutes to visualize driving or setting an intention to drive safely can also improve concentration. Another strategy is using a pre-drive checklist to establish habits and reduce risk, like putting away the phone, adjusting the seat and mirrors, and setting up navigation before you start moving. One of my clients, who has a hyperactive diagnosis, supports this strategy. For her, tying her shoes signals it’s time to focus, setting the stage for her to be aware of what’s around her (ahead, behind, and beside) when she’s driving.
Simon described how taking medication for his ADHD makes him hyper-focused. For him, medication is critical for regulating his thoughts, and he encourages anyone who needs it to use it as a tool for focus and safety. He describes driving as being “in a theater”—his full attention is on what’s immediately around him. In fact, he believes he may be safer on the road than some of his non-ADHD counterparts.
Behavior modifications
Simon shared that he keeps his vehicle simple and clean to prevent distractions; removing unnecessary items from the car is crucial to reducing risk. However, what qualifies as a distraction can vary from person to person. For example, Simon explained that loud music, even though it is often generalized as a distraction, is a part of his routine. Each individual must identify what behavior modifications work best for them.
Behaviors needing modification vary by driver. Eating, for example, can be hazardous for anyone behind the wheel but may be a more common behavior for some drivers than others. I was once an Uber passenger when the driver started choking. Luckily, he was able to clear his throat before we hit a highway barrier. While I don’t know if he was diagnosed with ADHD, the distraction he experienced was real.
If you eat while driving, put the food down until you pull over. If you know you tend to look at your phone, place it in a glove box or somewhere out of reach. Silence notifications on your watch and phone to remove the temptation to check them. Looking away from the road or taking your mind off driving—for any reason—can have deadly consequences.
Technology-based interventions
Prevent distractions by employing technology-based interventions, like distraction-blocking apps for cell phones. Vehicle technologies like adaptive cruise control and lane assist can help with inattentive driving behaviors. Depending on the driver, these tools could be bothersome or helpful. It’s important to know your distraction triggers, whether you’re diagnosed with ADHD or not.
Sleep and exercise
Simon emphasized that the industry should focus on supporting everyone, rather than singling out individuals with ADHD. Two examples that impact drivers’ attention, regardless of an ADHD diagnosis, are sleep and exercise. Sleep deprivation impacts cognitive functions in everyone, including attention, working memory, and decision making. Research has shown that after 17–19 hours without sleep, a person’s cognitive and motor performance is equivalent to that of someone with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 percent; after longer periods, impairment equals or exceeds 0.1 percent.
The benefits of exercise for cognitive function are well-known—in populations with ADHD and without. Simon shared that when he worked as a trainer with truck drivers, he noticed their lower extremities were often weak due to long hours of sitting in the vehicle. Sleep and exercise are critical for performance.
If we want to truly reduce distracted driving, we must move beyond generic warnings and focus on tailored, science-backed interventions that are individualized through coaching programs. This became clearer after talking to adults with ADHD. When every driver feels seen, supported, and equipped, we don’t just prevent crashes, we create a culture of responsibility and care on the road. In the end, that’s what saves lives.
Article originally published on April 22, 2025 on Inc.com.