The Driving Profile of Autistic Drivers and Their Driving Experiences: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Transportation Psychology
• Adolescent Development

Background:

• Driving is a crucial developmental milestone for adult transition.
• Autistic adolescents have lower rates of obtaining driver's licenses compared to neurotypical peers.
• Existing research shows variability in driving skills and attitudes among autistic drivers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the driving profile of autistic drivers.
• To organize driving performance within Michon's Hierarchical Model of Driving.
• To identify unique challenges and strengths in autistic drivers' performance.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched four databases for peer-reviewed articles (2000-2021) on autistic drivers.
• Included studies with empirical data on driving or transportation.

Main Results:

• 37 articles met the inclusion criteria for the review.
• Autistic drivers do not appear to be at a generally higher risk for negative driving outcomes.
• Unique challenges exist related to specific driving contexts and required skills.

Conclusions:

• The overall driving performance of autistic drivers remains unclear due to inconsistent findings.
• Further research is needed to quantify driving performance using theoretical frameworks.
• Identifying consistent strengths and challenges is crucial for supporting autistic drivers.