Driving Skills/Ability

UCLA’s Longevity Center held a community meeting on January 16, 2014 to discuss Driver Safety for Older Adults.

A total of 5,853 elderly drivers, aged 55 and over, and 8,210 middle-aged drivers 36–50 years old, all of whom were involved in accidents during 1986, were compared using discriminant function and univariate techniques.

This video from the Roadway Safety Foundation promotes the Delaware Department of Transportation's efforts to improve safety for all motorists in the state by implementing design features known to benefit older drivers and pedestrians.

A study was done to determine which senior driver errors caused the most prevalent serious crashes.

Brief summaries of research on alcohol-involved driving, drug-involved driving, occupant protection (e.g., seat belts, and child safety seats), speed and other unsafe driving behaviors. 

This article reviews information the effects of old age on motor abilities as it relates to driving behavior.

This article reports on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s findings that drivers aged 70 and older are less likely to be involved in crashes than previous generations.

Home Instead Senior Care recently launched an online program that provides tips to make the conversation with an older adult about their driving ability a little easier.

NPR reported the findings of researchers from the University of Illinois who found that “individuals over 59 face an increased risk of injury when crossing busy complicated streets while multitasking.”

Do you worry about your driving? Is your family “pestering” you about your driving? Broaching the subject of driving with an older person is usually a difficult task. In our society, driving is associated with independence and freedom.