Improving ADHD Teen Driving
Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11384731 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to help teens with ADHD drive more safely by teaching focused attention to reduce long glances away from the road.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2016 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $646,695 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD084430-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384731 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Teens with ADHD who are learning to drive or already driving and whose families can access training and equipment.
✕Less likely to help
Teens without ADHD or those who cannot access the training hardware/software may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on past work to reduce risky looking-away behaviors in teens with ADHD using a training program called FOCAL+. It seeks to adapt and disseminate an effective, evidence-based driver training to prevent crashes and near-crashes. The team plans to address barriers to real-world use, including high costs and complex setup, so families can access safer driving support. Outcomes include reduced long glances, steadier lane position, and fewer crashes during naturalistic driving. Results could lead to broader adoption of ADHD-specific driving training in clinical and community settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, teens with ADHD could drive more safely and experience fewer crashes, injuries, and deaths.
How similar studies have gone: Prior randomized trials showed significant reductions in risky driving behaviors and fewer crashes for participants receiving FOCAL+.
Where this research is happening
-
Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Epstein, Jeff N. — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Epstein, Jeff N.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.