%0 Journal Article
%T In my car the brake is on the right: Pedal errors among older drivers
%J Accident analysis and prevention
%D 2008
%A McLeod, Roberta
%A Petrakos, Davithoula
%A Colgrove, Leigh Anna A.
%A Freund, Barbara
%V 40
%N 1
%P 403-409
%X PURPOSE: To assess to what extent specific cognitive functions contribute to pedal errors among older drivers. METHODS: 180 subjects aged 65 and older completed a 30min driving evaluation on a simulator as well as three cognitive tests, the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), the Clock Drawing Test, and Trailmaking Part A and B. Analyses based on logistic regressions were performed using age, gender, MMSE, Trailmaking Part A and B, and Clock Drawing Test as independent variables. RESULTS: Results indicate that Clock Drawing is the best predictor of pedal errors (odds ratio=10.04, p&lt;.0001, 95% CI: 3.80, 26.63) followed by age &gt;/=84 (odds ratio 6.10, p&lt;.05, 95% CI: 1.77, 21.03). In contrast, Trailmaking Part A and B, gender, and the MMSE were not significantly related to pedal errors. CONCLUSION: Executive dysfunction may be an important contributor to pedal errors and thus unsafe driving. Practitioners may wish to consider measures of executive function when evaluating patients for driving safety.   <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Elsevier Publishing
%@ 0001-4575
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2007.07.012