Driving Behaviour Profile of Drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 47; no. 9; pp. 2658 - 2670
• Main Authors: Chee, Derserri Y., Lee, Hoe C., Patomella, Ann-Helen, Falkmer, Torbjörn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-09-2017; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Asperger’s syndrome; Autism; Barriers; Behavior; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child and School Psychology; Comparative Analysis; Drivers; Driving; High-functioning autism; Influence; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Michon model; Motor vehicle driving; Motor Vehicles; Naturalistic; Neurosciences; Original Paper; P-Drive; Pedestrian crossings; Pedestrians; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Psychology; Public Health; Safety and security measures; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Traffic; Traffic Safety; Naturalistic; Asperger’s syndrome; High-functioning autism; P-Drive; Michon model; Aspergers syndrome
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3178-1

The symptomatology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can make driving risky, but little is known about the on-road driving behaviour of individuals with ASD. This study assessed and compared the on-road driving performance of drivers with and without ASD, and explored how the symptomatology of ASD hinders or facilitates on-road driving performance. Sixteen drivers with ASD and 21 typically-developed drivers participated in the study. Drivers with ASD underperformed in vehicle manoeuvring, especially at left-turns, right-turns and pedestrian crossings. However, drivers with ASD outperformed the TD group in aspects related to rule-following such as using the indicator at roundabouts and checking for cross-traffic when approaching intersections. Drivers with ASD in the current study presented with a range of capabilities and weaknesses during driving.