Learning to Drive with ADHD / ADD

Adults learning to drive with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) or ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) have many challenges with inattentiveness and distractibility, and once they have passed their driving test they tend to be at greater risk of having accidents and receiving traffic tickets.

Difficulties relating to ADHD / ADD that affect driving include inattention, impulsivity, risk-taking and poor judgement, any of which can lead to poor reactions to other drivers or changing traffic conditions.

Drivers with ADHD / ADD are particularly at risk from distractions during periods of low stimulus such as long-distance and motorway driving, where high speeds can further raise the chance of accidents.

Distraction can also be found in simple things even on shorter journeys, including changing radio stations, checking make-up, drinking, eating, talking with another person in the car. Parents who drive young children need to be aware of distractions caused by children or from in-vehicle entertainment systems designed for their back seat occupants. When coping with the symptoms of ADD / ADHD, these factors increase the risks of poor driving and can lead to car accidents.

In addition, drivers with ADHD / ADD may also tend to overestimate their driving abilities, and although adults with ADHD / ADD with more years of driving practice have an advantage over younger people driving with ADHD / ADD, the symptoms can cause problems for drivers throughout their driving careers.

Drivers affected by ADHD / ADD need to be especially aware of their own driving abilities as part of the management of their condition, and they can benefit greatly from understanding how their ADHD / ADD symptoms affect their driving.

How 1nfluence Driver Training can help

1nfluence Driver training have many years’ experience of driver training for people with ADHD / ADD and other specific needs.

For people who drive with ADHD / ADD, sometimes it can be straightforward techniques like leaving mobile phones turned off, along with not eating or drinking while driving, which can help to increase attention and prevent accidents. Knowing driving routes beforehand and being familiar with directions to the destination will help limit impulsivity.

Depending on your individual specific symptoms, our driver training may need to focus on specific symptoms of ADHD / ADD, such as controlling negative emotions or improving attention. In addition, taking stimulant medication as part of a treatment plan can greatly improve the driving performance of many adults with ADHD / ADD.

Single lessons are available from £58 per hour.

Click here to return to the Drivers with SEN and Learning Differences page where you can find out more about driving lessons for adults with learning difficulties, or you can find out more about driving lessons for nervous drivers or drivers with high anxiety.