Citation

Sawula E, Polgar J, Porter MM, Gagnon S, Weaver B, Nakagawa S, Stinchcombe A, Bedard M. Traffic Injury Prev. 2018; 19(3): 241-249.

Affiliation

f Centre for Applied Health Research, St. Joseph's Care Group , Thunder Bay , Ontario , Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15389588.2016.1236194

PMID

29064285

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: A number of training programs that seek to improve driving performance among older drivers are available accompanied by a growing interest in their effectiveness. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the combined effect of 1) basic in-class training (BT); 2) on-road training with individualized feedback (OR); and 3) training on a driving simulator (S).

METHOD: Using a randomized controlled trial study design, 78 older drivers were randomly assigned to one of three groups (BT, BT+OR, or BT+OR+S). All participants completed a pre- and post-intervention on-road driving evaluation on a standardized route. The driving evaluations were recorded using video and GPS equipment and were scored by a blind assessor.

RESULTS: The results indicated a significant reduction of approximately 30% in overall number of driving errors/omissions among participants in the BT+OR and the BT+OR+S groups in comparison to participants in the BT group.

CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the mounting evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of individualized driver training in improving safe driving among older adults.

Language: en

Keywords

aging; driver training; driving; older drivers; randomized controlled trials; seniors; simulation