Training Teens to Become Safer Drivers
FOCALplus (Focused Concentration and Attention Learning) Teen Driver Training is offered as part of a research study being conducted at the Center for ADHD at Cincinnati Children's. The goal of the program is to help teens with ADHD / ADD become safer drivers through a series of trainings. The training works by using simulated driving and eye tracking technology to train teens to limit extended glances away from the roadway while performing driving-related (e.g., looking in mirrors) and non-driving-related tasks (e.g., adjusting music).
Training
Training consists of five weekly training sessions. Each session lasts about one and a half hours and is taught in two parts. The first part teaches the teen to limit extended glances away from the roadway while performing secondary tasks. The second part of each training session has teens conduct simulated drives while performing secondary tasks. Real-time eye-tracking alerts the teen when their glances away from the road last two seconds or more, which trains them to reduce the length of the glances away from the road while driving.
Parents and caregivers are involved in the first and final training sessions, so they can learn about the skills taught and can reinforce these skills with teens during real-world driving.
