Behind the wheel with ADD

My nearly-15-year-old daughter is counting the days until she can get her learner's permit and get behind the wheel of my car. I realize that getting a driver's license is an important rite of passage, but for some teens who have attention deficit disorder, the process can be challenging.
Professor Russell Barkley of the Medical University of South Carolina has conducted a half-dozen studies on the subject. He says people with ADD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are four times more likely to speed, two to three times more likely to get in car accidents, three times more likely in the first five to eight years of driving to have their licenses revoked and five times more likely to get parking tickets.
Barkley has some tips for teens with ADD or ADHD before they start to drive:

1) Lessons learned. Don't rush to get your license at the age of 16. Stay in a learner's permit program for one to two years. Extra time in the classroom won't make a big difference, but more practice time behind the wheel can be a huge confidence booster.

2) Just say no. Turn off cell phones, MP3 players, radios, CDs. No text messaging, no alcohol and no teenage friends in the car.

3) Big mother is watching. Parents may want do random spot checks on their teen drivers. Set up a sign-in sheet or board in the garage to track their location. Install a "governor" on the car to control speeding. Consider installing a GPS system in the car to track their whereabouts.

4) Sign on the bottom line. Draw up a contract with your teen that spells out specific rules and expectations while driving.

Finally, consider having your teen with ADD take appropriate medication while driving. Be sure to monitor the dosage so it doesn't wear off during the high hours after school and on weekend evenings.

Judy Fortin's Health Minute segment runs daily on Headline News from 10am to 6pm ET weekdays.