A Comparative Study of Driving Performance Among Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Neurotypical Adolescents

NCT07630298 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025-A02129-40
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 22
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The primary objective of this study is to compare the number of driving errors made by novice adolescents (0-5 hours of driving instruction) with ASD to those made by neurotypical adolescents during a standardized driving simulator assessment. The secondary objectives of the study are to:

• Compare the visual strategies used by adolescents with ASD to those of neurotypical adolescents during a driving assessment on a simulator.
• Compare the types of errors and driving performance (i.e., speed, reaction time, following distance, and braking distance) of adolescents with ASD to those of neurotypical adolescents during the driving simulator assessment.
• Compare the driving performance of these two groups during a real-world road assessment using the TRIP scale.
• Examine the consistency between driving performance measured in the simulator and that observed in real-world conditions for both groups.
• Compare the anxiety levels of these two groups during driving tests on the simulator and on the road.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Keywords

Drive; learning; Driving simulator; ASD

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Assessment of driving errors in various scenarios using a driving simulator.

  Each adolescent's driving performance will be measured, following Michon's model, through two distinct levels of assessment: * Assessment 1 focuses more on the operational level of Michon's model: the participant must control their vehicle while stationary and on the road under simple conditions, i.e., with no other road users and no incidents. During 5 tests, control of the controls, maintaining a straight line and staying in the lane when turning, and maintaining speed at low speeds (50 km/h) and moderate speeds (80 km/h) will be evaluated. * Assessment 2, which places greater emphasis on tactical skills: The participant will be confronted with more complex situations requiring adaptation of driving to road conditions and other road users. The aim is to gradually introduce additional cognitive demands: visual attention, visual scanning, interaction with other road users, and the management of critical situations in urban and rural environments through six tests.

  At enrollment

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Visual exploration

  At enrollment

• Driving performance on the simulator

  At enrollment

• Driving performance on-road

  At enrollment

• Anxiety - State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Y-form

  At enrollment

• Assessment of executive functions and attention

  At enrollment

Study Arms (2)

Neurotypical group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Once enrolled, each participant will undergo an assessment of executive functions and attention (conducted by a neuropsychologist, lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes) using the following tests: * Attention Assessment Test (TAP), * Trail Making Test (TMT), which assesses mental flexibility, * Stroop Selective Attention Test, assessing the ability to inhibit automatic processes, * Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WSCT-modified), assessing abstract reasoning and the ability to change cognitive strategies in response to changes in the environment. Each adolescent will then undergo two driving assessments: one on a driving simulator and one on the road in a dual-control vehicle with a driving instructor.

Other: Assessment of executive functions and attention; Other: Evaluation on a driving simulator; Other: Evaluation on-road

ASD group

EXPERIMENTAL

Once enrolled, each participant will undergo an assessment of executive functions and attention (conducted by a neuropsychologist, lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes) using the following tests: * Attention Assessment Test (TAP) (25), * Trail Making Test (TMT), which assesses mental flexibility (26), * Stroop Selective Attention Test, assessing the ability to inhibit automatic processes (27), * Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WSCT-modified), assessing abstract reasoning and the ability to change cognitive strategies in response to changes in the environment (28). Each adolescent will then undergo two driving assessments: one on a driving simulator and one on the road in a dual-control vehicle with a driving instructor.

Other: Assessment of executive functions and attention; Other: Evaluation on a driving simulator; Other: Evaluation on-road

Interventions

Assessment of executive functions and attention OTHER

* Attention Assessment Test (TAP), * Trail Making Test (TMT), which assesses mental flexibility, * Stroop Selective Attention Test, assessing the ability to inhibit automatic processes, * Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WSCT-modified), assessing abstract reasoning and the ability to change cognitive strategies in response to changes in the environment.

ASD group; Neurotypical group

Evaluation on a driving simulator OTHER

The 1-hour simulator assessment will be preceded by a 1.5-hour orientation session. The simulator used is the Rehab Evolution, manufactured by Develter Innovation.

ASD group; Neurotypical group

Evaluation on-road OTHER

The on-road evaluation will be conducted using a dual-control vehicle, with a certified driving instructor and an occupational therapist. The evaluation will last one hour.

ASD group; Neurotypical group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 15 Years - 17 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• ASD Group
• Adolescents aged 15 to 17,
• With a confirmed diagnosis of ASD by a physician,
• Without an intellectual disability, with a Fluid Reasoning Index (IRF) greater than 80,
• Who have passed the written driver's license exam,
• With no or very limited driving experience (\<5 hours),
• Enrolled in the social security system.
• Neurotypical group:
• Adolescents aged 15 to 17,
• Without a diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders or learning disabilities,
• With a standard educational background,
• Who have passed the written driver's license exam,
• With no or very limited driving experience (\<5 hours),
• Enrolled in the social security system.

You may not qualify if:

• Adolescents with ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and/or ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) and/or IDD (intellectual disability) and/or SLI (specific language impairment) with associated comprehension difficulties,
• Adolescents who already have a driver's license,
• Adolescents currently taking driving lessons and/or with more than 5 hours of driving experience,
• Adolescents who have suffered a head injury during childhood,
• Other serious medical conditions that may interfere with participation in the sessions,
• Participation in another research protocol.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hopital La Musse: lead
• French Road Safety Delegation: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Hôpital La Musse

Saint-Sébastien-de-Morsent, 27180, France

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Central Study Contacts

Héloïse BAILLET, Dr

CONTACT

+33232293047; h.baillet@hlrs-lamusse.net

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Prospective, Interventional, Single-center, with a control group

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 1, 2026
• First Posted: June 5, 2026
• Study Start: July 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2027
• Last Updated: June 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FR (1)