For any driver, staying safe on the road requires concentration. Understandably, teens with ADHD may be challenged as they try to gain skill and experience behind the wheel. Studies show that in their first two to five years of driving, teens with ADHD:

• Have nearly four times as many car accidents²
• Are more likely to cause injury to themselves or others²
• Have three times the number of speeding citations than do teens who do not have ADHD²

There are a number of things that parents and guardians can do to help their teen with ADHD drive safely:

• Give the teen a lot of practice with you riding in the car
• Prohibit use of cell phones while driving
• Establish rules about changing music. Scanning through radio stations or trying to locate a stray CD can take a driver's mind off the road.
• Consider the impact of passengers. Driving with friends in the car can be distracting. Parents and guardians may want to place limits on the number of friends (or even prohibit certain passengers)
• Clearly state expectations and consequences. Driving should be presented as a privilege and parents and guardians should establish rules and communicate consequences of breaking those rules

If you are concerned about managing your teen's ADHD symptoms, it may be time to ask the doctor about ADDERALL XR.