The objective of this research project was to put together a multidimensional concept in order to gain more insight into the relation between the cognitive/neuropsychological factors, compensation mechanisms and safe car driving performance of older adults. The research sample consisted of 84 car drivers over 65 years of age, who were referred by their doctor or insurance company for a general fitness-to-drive evaluation. The study started with the development of an easy-to-administer short screening battery that can be used as a first-tier assessment tool in primary health care settings. Analyses revealed the potential value of such an instrument to identify people in need of further fitness-to-drive evaluation. Subsequently, detailed top-down theory-driven hypotheses were tested regarding the correlation between cognitive/neuropsychological functioning and car driving performance. Correlations between specific neuropsychological tests and self-reported accidents were investigated. Furthermore, the correlations between the same tests and a road test, independently assessed on a detailed evaluation grid, were analysed in depth. The results of this study highlight the relevance of a cognitive/neuropsychological approach to the driving ability of elderly people. However, the link with accident risk was found to be more complex. A detailed accident analysis was therefore carried out which revealed that this type of analysis taking into account the specific accident type could enhance the predictive value of neurocognitive measurements. Finally, the influence of compensation strategies was analysed in depth. The results of these analyses revealed that tactical and strategic compensation can be successful in helping persons with obvious driving problems avoid accidents. Consequently, neuropsychological screening procedures are in need of a broader perspective to prevent overemphasis on unidimensional screening procedures focusing more on deficits than on the ability to adopt safe compensatory behaviour patterns. For the covering abstract see ITRD E113725.
[1]
P. Baltes,et al.
Psychological aspects of aging: Facts and frontiers
,
1996
.
[2]
Rainer Christ.
AGEING AND DRIVING - DECREASING MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND INCREASING COMPENSATORY ABILITIES?
,
1996
.
[3]
R De Raedt,et al.
Predicting at-fault car accidents of older drivers.
,
2001,
Accident; analysis and prevention.
[4]
S. Nair,et al.
The role of working memory, field dependence, visual search, and reaction time in the left turn performance of older female drivers.
,
1999,
Applied Ergonomics.
[5]
G. Mccoy,et al.
Injury to the elderly in road traffic accidents.
,
1989,
The Journal of trauma.
[6]
Liisa Hakamies-Blomqvist,et al.
RESEARCH ON OLDER DRIVERS: A REVIEW
,
1996
.
[7]
R. de Raedt,et al.
Can strategic and tactical compensation reduce crash risk in older drivers?
,
2000,
Age and ageing.
[8]
G. Kaplan,et al.
Book Review of Cornoni-Huntley J, Brock DW, Ostfeld AW, et al. Established populations for epidemiologic studies of the elderly: resource data book
,
1987
.
[9]
M K Janke,et al.
Assessing medically impaired older drivers in a licensing agency setting.
,
1998,
Accident; analysis and prevention.
[10]
R. Raedt,et al.
The Relationship Between Cognitive/Neuropsychological Factors and Car Driving Performance in Older Adults
,
2000,
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
[11]
D. O'Neill,et al.
Predicting and Coping with the Consequences of Stopping Driving
,
1997,
Alzheimer disease and associated disorders.
[12]
L. Hakamies‐Blomqvist,et al.
Compensation in older drivers as reflected in their fatal accidents.
,
1994,
Accident; analysis and prevention.