Older drivers: Envisioning safety

Posted 01/19/2012


Drivers over age 65 are the fastest growing segment of the driving population, and their vision-care providers--ophthalmologists and optometrists--are playing an increasingly important role in assessing their ability to drive safely.

With support from the Michigan Center for Advancing Safe Transportation throughout the Lifespan (M-CASTL), a multidisciplinary team from the University of Michigan recently conducted a study to investigate the role of vision care providers (VCPs) in assessing older patients' driving abilities.

The research team found that the majority of VCPs feel it is their responsibility to ask older adult patients about driving, and most do it routinely. VCPs most often test their older adult patients on their visual acuity and peripheral vision, but are least likely to test patients' visual search and visual processing speed.

The study also found that VCPs often fail to ask about other factors that might affect the patient's ability to drive safely. Inquiries about glare, driving at night, and reading signs were very common (87 percent), but questions about challenging driving situations (such as merging or backing up) or the patient's driving record were infrequent (8 percent).

Research indicates that when older adults lose the ability to drive, there are consequences. These individuals have higher rates of depression and social isolation, more limited access to health care services, and are more likely to need long-term care. With the proper resources, VCPs could work with their patients in modifying their driving habits, which would allow them to drive appropriately and maintain their independence.

Read the full research summary.

Photo courtesy of M-CASTL.