Citation

Allan C, Coxon K, Bundy A, Peattie L, Keay L. J. Appl. Gerontol. 2015; 35(6): 583-600.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0733464815570666

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Safety concerns together with aging of the driving population has prompted research into clinic-based driving assessments. This study investigates the relationship between the DriveSafe and DriveAware assessments and restriction of driving. Community-dwelling adults aged more than 75 (n = 380) were recruited in New South Wales, Australia. Questionnaires were administered to assess driving habits and functional assessments to assess driving-related function. Self-reported restriction was prevalent in this cross-sectional sample (62%) and was related to DriveSafe scores and personal circumstances but not DriveAware scores. DriveSafe scores were correlated with better performance on the Trail-Making Test (TMT; β = −2.94, p <.0001) and better contrast sensitivity (β = 48.70, p <.0001). Awareness was associated with better performance on the TMT (β = 0.08, p <.0001). Our data suggest that DriveSafe and DriveAware are sensitive to deficits in vision and cognition, and drivers with worse DriveSafe scores self-report restricting their driving.

Language: en