Training Teens to Become Safer Drivers
FOCALplus (Focused Concentration and Attention Learning) Teen Driver Training is offered through the Center for ADHD at Cincinnati Children's. The goal of the program is to help teens, those with ADHD / ADD and those without, 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). If you are interested in signing up for FOCALplus, please complete this brief eligibility survey: FOCALplus eligibility survey.
The price of the FOCALplus Teen Driver Training program is $500.
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 is computerized and teaches the teen to limit extended glances away from the roadway while performing secondary tasks. The second part of each training session is simulation-based.
In the driving simulator, teens are outfitted with eye-tracking glasses and are instructed to periodically perform secondary tasks while driving. The eye-tracking system will alert the teen in real time 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.
