Driving Competence in Older Persons

This paper explores problems associated with elderly drivers. One problem is the increase of physical vulnerability with age, which means that the same accident often leads to much more severe injury in an older than a younger adult driver. Another problem is the decline of sensory, perceptual-motor, and cognitive abilities (impairments) associated with attention and visual deficits and dementia because if aging-related degenerative processes and diseases. As a result, processing of and responding to traffic information is slowed and activities cannot well be performed simultaneously. Much of this may be compensated by behavioral changes. Studies of accident characteristics and driving skills in relation to aging suggest that compensation breaks down in complex and ambiguous traffic situations and in individuals with strongly impaired perceptual and cognitive function. Possible changes to reduce aging-related accidents are discussed.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09638288
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Taylor and Francis. Special Issue: Disability and rehabilitation in older persons.
• Authors:
  • Brouwer, W H
  • Ponds, R W H M
• Publication Date: 1994-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: pp 149-161
• Serial:
  • Disability and Rehabilitation
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Informa plc
  • ISSN: 0963-8288
  • EISSN: 1464-5165

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged; Aging (Biology); Automobile drivers; Driving; Human factors in crashes; Injuries; Injury severity; Mental disorders; Motor skills; Perception; Physical condition; Traffic crashes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Competence
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01055950
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 26 2007 6:39PM