# An integrated approach to establish the scientific foundation for driving among adolescents with autism

> **NIH NIH R01** · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · 2021 · $630,986

## Abstract

Project Abstract
The transition from adolescence to adulthood is particularly challenging for individuals with autism spectrum
disorders (ASD). The ability to drive a vehicle has great potential to increase independence and mobility for teens
with ASD—ultimately improving long-term well-being and health. We know that 1 in 3 individuals with ASD are
licensed by age 21, but there is a notable gap between these families' interest in driving and the percentage of
teens who are actually driving. For teens with ASD who do drive independently, impairments in skills known to
be critical for safe driving may put them at heightened risk of a motor vehicle crash—the leading cause of death
among teens. Given both the importance of safely encouraging independence and the potential for increased
risk for negative driving outcomes, research on driving among teens with ASD is critical. Our long-term goal is
to develop tailored resources and interventions that support teens with ASD and their families during the
transition-to-driving period and optimize both their safety as independent drivers and positive long-term health
outcomes. The overall objective of this research project is to provide much-needed evidence to directly inform
development of these driving supports for teens and young adults with ASD. We will conduct an integrated series
of three studies to: (1) identify underlying factors and outcomes of families' driving decisions; (2) characterize
the driving patterns, behaviors, and performance of licensed teen drivers with ASD; and (3) establish the risk of
negative driving outcomes among teen drivers with ASD. In Aim 1, we will first conduct qualitative interviews with
driver educators, healthcare providers, and teens with ASD and their parents. Results will then directly inform
quantitative surveys employed in a longitudinal cohort study of more than 500 teen with ASD-parent dyads that
aims to determine how teens and their parents decide to drive and assess whether driving is associated with
higher rates of quality of life measures. In Aim 2, we will characterize the driving patterns, behaviors, and
performance of 40 newly licensed teens with ASD by continuously monitoring their driving for the first 12 months
of licensure via innovative in-vehicle technology. We will estimate the prevalence of driving exposure (e.g., miles
driven) and unsafe driving behaviors (e.g., speeding, cell phone use) among teens with ASD and compare the
rates of unsafe driving events to a sample of teens without ASD derived from a prior naturalistic driving study. In
Aim 3, we will conduct a retrospective cohort study using a unique linked data warehouse of childhood electronic
health records and state traffic safety data to compare the risk of motor vehicle crashes and traffic citations for
licensed teen drivers with and without ASD over the first four years of licensure. This study is innovative in that
it is the first longitudinal research program to investigate real-world ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10180993
- **Project number:** 5R01HD096221-04
- **Recipient organization:** CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Allison Elizabeth Curry
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $630,986
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-12 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10180993

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10180993, An integrated approach to establish the scientific foundation for driving among adolescents with autism (5R01HD096221-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10180993. Licensed CC0.

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