Association Between Executive Function and Problematic Adolescent Driving

Abstract

Objective Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are one of the leading causes of injury and death for adolescents. Driving is a complex activity that is highly reliant on executive function to safely navigate through the environment. Little research has examined the efficacy of using self-reported executive function measures for assessing adolescent driving risk. This study examined the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) questionnaire and performance based-executive function tasks as potential predictors of problematic driving outcomes in adolescents. Methods Forty-six adolescent drivers completed the (1) BRIEF, (2) Trail Making Test (TMT), (3) Backwards Digit Span, and (4) self-report on three problematic driving outcomes: the number of times of having been pulled over by a police officer, the number of tickets issued, and the number of MVCs. Results Greater self-reported difficulty with planning and organization was associated with greater odds of having a MVC, while inhibition difficulties were associated with greater odds of receiving a ticket. Greater self-reported difficulty across multiple BRIEF subscales was associated with greater odds of being pulled over. Conclusion Overall findings indicated that the BRIEF, an ecological measure of executive function, showed significant association with self-reported problematic driving outcomes in adolescents. No relationship was found between performance-based executive function measures and self-reported driving outcomes. The BRIEF could offer unique and quick insight into problematic driving behavior and potentially be an indicator of driving risk in adolescent drivers during clinical evaluations.

Reliability and Validity of a Method for Assessment of Executive Functions in Drivers

“…The results from previous studies in the field of road safety measuring executive functions with different instruments demonstrate that executive functions can be considered as an indicator of problematic driving behavior. This fact is cross validated with other approaches for assessment of risky driving behavior [22,23]. Similarly to these findings, the results from the presented studies show that the proposed instrument is a valid tool for prevention of dangerous driving and can be used as part of different batteries for measurement of driving performance.…”

Mechanisms behind distracted driving behavior: The role of age and executive function in the engagement of distracted driving

“…Although, the BRIEF-A shows little statistical association with performance-based measures (Ritter, Perrig, Steinlin, & Everts, 2014) further investigation into the relationship between the two types of executive function is needed in the context of driving. It could be the case that the BRIEF-A captured variance not explained by traditional performance-based measures and may be tapping into “hot cognition” that is not always captured with “cool cognition” in-lab performance-based measures (see Hongwanishkul, Happaney, Lee, & Zelazo, 2005; Prencipe et al, 2011) as the BRIEF has shown association with negative driving outcomes (Pope et al, in press; Rike et al, 2015; Rike et al, 2014). We also did not measure impulsivity, a trait associated with distracted driving and executive deficit or self-regulation, a compensation strategy involving awareness of cognitive and motor deficits frequently seen in older drivers that factor into a driver’s willingness to engage in certain driving behaviors (Lerner, Singer, & Huey, 2008).…”

“…The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version (BRIEF-A) (Roth, Isquith, & Gioia, 2005) assesses behavioral disruptions spanning nine domains of executive function (inhibit, shift, emotional control, self-monitor, initiate, working memory, plan/organize, task monitor, and organization of materials) over the past month. Previous research has shown the BRIEF to be related to negative driving outcomes in individuals after brain injury (Rike, Johansen, Ulleberg, Lundqvist, & Schanke, 2015; Rike, Ulleberg, Schultheis, Lundqvist, & Schanke, 2014) and with adolescent drivers (Pope, Ross, & Stavrinos, in press). To our knowledge no other study has assessed the BRIEF in relation to engagement in distracted driving.…”

Executive Function Capacities, Negative Driving Behavior and Crashes in Young Drivers

“…However, the specific role of EF constructs in driving performance has not been examined systematically in adolescent drivers [ 31 ]. In order to improve teen driver safety and reduce injury and death on the roads, it is crucial that we better understand which discrete domains and sub-processes of EF are key to safe driving so that training and other countermeasures can be geared towards addressing the root causes of adolescent crashes.…”