Training the Motor Aspects of Pre-driving Skills of Young Adults With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The team put young adults with and without autism in a driving simulator. They practiced steering and pedal drills until they hit error-free runs.

Each exercise repeated until the learner nailed it five times in a row. The study tracked speed and mistakes, not just pass-fail scores.

Most adults with autism cleared 16 of 18 drills. They took a little longer, but accuracy matched their typical peers.

Five tries per task was the sweet spot. After that, errors stayed flat and confidence rose.

Dudley et al. (2019) saw the same quick gain pattern in 6- to 12-year-olds using visuomotor games. Both studies show motor skills can jump after short, repeated practice.

Myers et al. (2015) worked with 4-year-olds and also found motor gains, but only in object play, not social skills. The new data stretch that window up to driving age.

Haghighi et al. (2023) blended ball games and rhythm for kids. They added social gains; Johnell did not test social change, so the two sets of results sit side-by-side, not in conflict.

If you serve teens or adults who want to drive, plug in a cheap steering wheel game. Run five-trial loops on lane keeping and braking. Track time to error-free runs as your mastery cue. No extra social stories needed—just motor reps.