R2DRV: study protocol for longitudinal assessment of driving after mild TBI in young drivers

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Public Health
• Traffic Safety

Background:

• Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and traffic injuries are significant public health issues affecting young people.
• Young drivers are particularly vulnerable to impaired driving after mTBI due to developing driving skills.
• Limited research exists on mTBI's impact on driving and safe return-to-driving timelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To longitudinally assess simulated driving performance and real-world driving behaviors in young drivers post-mTBI.
• To compare driving trajectories of young drivers with mTBI to healthy controls.
• To investigate the influence of neurocognitive function and cognitive load on driving post-mTBI.

Main Methods:

• Enrolled 200 young drivers (16-24 years): 100 with mTBI and 100 matched healthy controls.
• Assessed driving using high-fidelity simulators at multiple time points (acute to 8 weeks post-injury).
• Collected daily self-report surveys on real-world driving behaviors.

Main Results:

• This study protocol is designed to longitudinally assess driving performance and behaviors in young drivers with mTBI compared to matched healthy drivers.
• The research strategy enables evaluating how increased cognitive load may exacerbate the effects of mTBI on driving.
• It also assesses how post-mTBI neurocognitive deficits may impact the driving ability of young drivers.

Conclusions:

• The study will provide critical data on the driving recovery trajectory after mTBI in young drivers.
• Findings will inform guidelines for safe return to driving for young individuals post-mTBI.
• Results will be disseminated to scientific, clinical, and public audiences.