ADHD and Vehicular Accident Risk

Attention and impulsive behaviors found in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can contribute to accident risk in children and adults.

A recent study of adult drivers in France provides evidence for increased accident risk in adults with ADHD.

Researchers at the Bordeaux University Hospital interviewed a series of adult drivers seen in the emergency department following a road traffic crash.

A total of 777 eligible subjects completed assessments of accident information, distraction exposure and presence of ADHD, depression or anxiety disorders.

The key findings from this study including the following:

• 67 of the subjects (8.6%) were assigned to the ADHD category
• Presence of a depressive or anxiety disorder did not appear to be linked to risk for responsibility of a crash
• Presence of a distraction contributed to accident risk
• Presence of ADHD increased accident risk approximately two fold (Odds ratio = 2.18)
• Presence of both ADHD and a distraction exposure increased accident risk four fold (Odds ratio=4.37)

The authors found that in the ADHD case group, use of ADHD medication was extremely rare. They note that this may be due to the underdiagnosis of ADHD in adults in France and in many other European countries.

In the discussion section the authors point out:

"Improved screening and diagnosis of ADHD in adults would enable adoption of care strategies that focus on reducing attention impairment and improving cognitive performance. These strategies, which may also include road safety awareness messages, are likely to reduce the risk of road crashes in patients with ADHD."

This study in an important addition to the literature of ADHD and accident risk. It supports continued impairment for ADHD in some adults.

Readers with more interest in this study can access the free full-text manuscript by clicking on the PMID link in the citation below.

Walkers at sunset photo is from the author's files.

Follow the author on Twitter WRY999

El Farouki K, Lagarde E, Orriols L, Bouvard MP, Contrand B, & Galéra C (2014). The increased risk of road crashes in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) adult drivers: driven by distraction? Results from a responsibility case-control study. PloS one, 9 (12) PMID: 25536069