Top

Published in:

2024 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

On the Driving Behavior of Individuals with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder by Using Driving Simulator

Authors : Ferdinando Totani, Antony Bologna, Margherita Attanasio, Monica Mazza, Marco Valenti, Gino D’Ovidio

Published in: Smart City Innovations: Navigating Urban Transformation with Sustainable Mobility

Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

There is a limited number of multidisciplinary studies in the literature exploring the driving behavior of individuals with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some research has relied on driving simulators to analyse differences in driving performance between individuals with ASD and those with typical development (TD). However, most studies have not considered the reaction to unexpected events (e.g. sudden crossing) and some fundamental cognitive aspects such as understanding the intentions of other individuals and spatial perception abilities. Our preliminary study aims to compare the performance of young adults with ASD and TD in a driver simulator and on tests assessing the abilities to infer the intentions of others and spatial orientation. Three participants with a diagnosis of Level-1 ASD (mean age = 22 years, SD = 4.58) and three participants with TD (mean age = 24 years, SD = 2.00) took part in the study. An urban scenario with low-to-medium traffic intersections, traffic lights, crosswalks, and expected and unexpected pedestrian crosswalks was created. The driving behavior of the participants was analyzed using an appropriate indicators based on the measurement of the kinematic and dynamic parameters of the vehicle (speed acceleration, jerks, force applied on the brake pedal, etc.) as well as the collisions and violations of traffic rules monitored during the simulations. For the unexpected and sudden crosswalks, the ASD group showed differences in reaction times, releasing the accelerator pedal and applying the brake more quickly than the TD group. No differences between the two groups emerged for the adherence to the traffic rules, reaction to expected crosswalks, and performance on cognitive tests. Our preliminary results suggested a different perception, processing, and reaction to an unexpected event in the driving simulation. Given the importance of driving to achieve independence and improve quality of life, future studies should explore more in-depth both physical–mechanical and human-behavioral indicators in ASD individuals.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

previous chapter GIS as a Tool for Measuring the Centrality of Transportation Networks in Budapest City

next chapter Exploring SAEVs in the UK: A Behavioral Attitudes and Ridesharing Analysis for Sustainable Urban Mobility

Alonso, F., Faus, M., Riera, J., Fernandez-Marin, M., & Useche, S. A. (2023). Effectiveness of driving simulators for Drivers’ training: A Systematic review. Applied Sciences, 13(9), 5266. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13095266

Aluja, A., Balada, F., García, O., & García, L. F. (2023). Psychological predictors of risky driving: the role of age, gender, personality traits (Zuckerman’s and Gray’s models), and decision-making styles. Frontiers in psychology, 14, 1058927.

American Psychiatric Association, D., & American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5 (Vol. 5, No. 5). Washington, DC: American psychiatric association.

AVSimulation (n.d). https://www.avsimulation.com/simeasy/

Bishop, H. J., Biasini, F. J., & Stavrinos, D. (2017). Social and Non-social Hazard Response in Drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 47(4), 905–917. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2992-1

Caffò, A. O., Tinella, L., Lopez, A., Spano, G., Massaro, Y., Lisi, A., Stasolla, F., Catanesi, R., Nardulli, F., Grattagliano, I., & Bosco, A. (2020). The Drives for Driving Simulation: A Scientometric Analysis and a Selective Review of Reviews on Simulated Driving Research. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 917. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00917

Cardillo, R., Erbì, C., & Mammarella, I. C. (2020). Spatial Perspective-Taking in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Predictive Role of Visuospatial and Motor Abilities. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 14, 208. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00208

Chee, D. Y., Lee, H. C., Patomella, A. H., & Falkmer, T. (2017). Driving Behaviour Profile of Drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 47(9), 2658–2670. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3178-1

Chee, D. Y. T., Lee, H. C. Y., Patomella, A. H., & Falkmer, T. (2019a). Investigating the driving performance of drivers with and without autism spectrum disorders under complex driving conditions. Disability and rehabilitation, 41(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2017.1370498

Chee, D. Y. T., Lee, H. Y., Patomella, A. H., & Falkmer, T. (2019b). The visual search patterns of drivers with autism spectrum disorders in complex driving scenarios. Journal of Transport & Health, 14, 100597.

Classen, S., Monahan, M., & Wang, Y. (2013). Driving characteristics of teens with attention deficit hyperactivity and autism spectrum disorder. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 67(6), 664–673. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2013.008821

Cox, S. M., Cox, D. J., Kofler, M. J., Moncrief, M. A., Johnson, R. J., Lambert, A. E., Cain, S. A., & Reeve, R. E. (2016). Driving Simulator Performance in Novice Drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role of Executive Functions and Basic Motor Skills. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 46(4), 1379–1391. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2677-1

Cox, D. J., Brown, T., Ross, V., Moncrief, M., Schmitt, R., Gaffney, G., & Reeve, R. (2017). Can Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder Use Virtual Reality Driving Simulation Training to Evaluate and Improve Driving Performance? An Exploratory Study. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 47(8), 2544–2555. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3164-7

Cox, D. J., Owens, J. M., Barnes, L., Moncrief, M., Boukhechba, M., Buckman, S., Banton, T., & Wotring, B. (2020). A Pilot Study Comparing Newly Licensed Drivers With and Without Autism and Experienced Drivers in Simulated and On-Road Driving. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 50(4), 1258–1268. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04341-1

Daly, B. P., Nicholls, E. G., Patrick, K. E., Brinckman, D. D., & Schultheis, M. T. (2014). Driving behaviors in adults with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 44(12), 3119–3128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2166-y

Hegarty, M., & Waller, D. (2004). A dissociation between mental rotation and perspective-taking spatial abilities. Intelligence, 32(2), 175–191.

Hegarty, M., Richardson, A. E., Montello, D. R., Lovelace, K., & Subbiah, I. (2002). Development of a self-report measure of environmental spatial ability. Intelligence, 30(5), 425–447.

Le Donne I., Attanasio M., Bologna A., Vagnetti R., Masedu F., Valenti M., Mazza M. (2023). Autism and Intention Attribution Test: A Non-Verbal Evalutation With Comic Strips. Annals of general psychiatry, 22(1), 29. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-023-00461-2

Lohani, M., Payne, B. R., & Strayer, D. L. (2019). A Review of Psychophysiological Measures to Assess Cognitive States in Real-World Driving. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 13, 57. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2019.00057

Mazza, M., Attanasio, M., Bologna, A., Le Donne, I., & Valenti, M. (2023). The relationship between theory of mind, executive functioning, and repetitive behavior in high functioning autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Psychopathology.

Migó, M., Guillory, S. B., McLaughlin, C. S., Isenstein, E. L., Grosman, H. E., Thakkar, K. N., Castellanos, F. X., & Foss-Feig, J. H. (2022). Investigating Motor Preparation in Autism Spectrum Disorder With and Without Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 52(6), 2379–2387. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05130-5

Mohammadi, S., Arvin, R., Khattak, A. J., & Chakraborty, S. (2021). The role of drivers’ social interactions in their driving behavior: Empirical evidence and implications for car-following and traffic flow. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 80, 203–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2021.04.002

Myers, R. K., Carey, M. E., Bonsu, J. M., Yerys, B. E., Mollen, C. J., & Curry, A. E. (2021). Behind the wheel: Specialized driving instructors’ experiences and strategies for teaching autistic adolescents to drive. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75, 7503180110. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.043406

Reimer, B., Fried, R., Mehler, B., Joshi, G., Bolfek, A., Godfrey, K. M., Zhao, N., Goldin, R., & Biederman, J. (2013). Brief report: examining driving behavior in young adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorders: a pilot study using a driving simulation paradigm. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 43(9), 2211–2217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1764-4

Ross, V., Cox, D. J., Reeve, R., Brown, T., Moncrief, M., Schmitt, R., & Gaffney, G. (2018). Measuring the attitudes of novice drivers with autism spectrum disorder as an indication of apprehensive driving: Going beyond basic abilities. Autism, 22(1), 62–69.

Ross, V., Jongen, E. M., Brijs, K., Vanroelen, G., Beelen, C., Maltagliati, I., ... & Vanvuchelen, M. (2019). The relation between driving errors and executive functioning in intellectually able young novice drivers with autism. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour, 63, 38–54.

Shahmoradi, L., & Rezayi, S. (2022). Cognitive rehabilitation in people with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review of emerging virtual reality-based approaches. Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 19(1), 91. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-022-01069-5

Sheppard, E., van Loon, E., Underwood, G., & Ropar, D. (2017). Attentional Differences in a Driving Hazard Perception Task in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 47(2), 405–414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2965-4

Sheppard, E., van Loon, E., & Ropar, D. (2023). Dimensions of Self-Reported Driving Difficulty in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults and their Relationship with Autistic Traits. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53(1), 285–295.

Silvi, C., Scott-Parker, B. & Jones, C. (2018). A Literature Review of the Likely Effects of Autism Spectrum Disorder on Adolescent Driving Abilities. Adolescent Res Rev 3, 449–465. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-017-0068-x

Svancara, A. M., Kana, R., Bednarz, H., Sherrod, G., Visscher, K., McManus, B., & Stavrinos, D. (2022). Time-to-Collision Estimations in Young Drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1–16.

Valori, I., Carnevali, L., Mantovani, G., & Farroni, T. (2022). Motivation from Agency and Reward in Typical Development and Autism: Narrative Review of Behavioral and Neural Evidence. Brain sciences, 12(10), 1411. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12101411

Wilson, N. J., Lee, H. C., Vaz, S., Vindin, P., & Cordier, R. (2018). Scoping review of the driving behaviour of and driver training programs for people on the autism spectrum. Behavioural neurology, 2018.

Title: On the Driving Behavior of Individuals with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder by Using Driving Simulator
Authors: Ferdinando Totani
Antony Bologna
Margherita Attanasio
Monica Mazza
Marco Valenti
Gino D’Ovidio
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland
Book: Smart City Innovations: Navigating Urban Transformation with Sustainable Mobility
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-57384-2

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-031-57385-9

Copyright Year: 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-57385-9_10

Springer Professional

Abstract

Please log in to get access to your license.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Springer Professional "Technik"

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"