Review articleCognitive, sensory and physical factors enabling driving safety in older adults
Section snippets
Aging changes relevant to driving
Even in normal aging there is a decline in many cognitive abilities that are relevant to performing complex tasks such as driving. Of particular relevance are age-related changes in various aspects of visual attention including selective attention, divided attention, sustained attention (i.e., vigilance) and switching attention. Driving in traffic requires the ability to attend to relevant information and to ignore irrelevant information in often complex visual scenes with potential hazards
Empirical literature on factors associated with driving outcomes in older adults
A literature review of empirical studies of predictors of crash risk and on-road driving performance was conducted as part of the process for developing the proposed multidimensional driving model and to elucidate areas that require further research and validation. Peer reviewed articles on cognitive, sensory, and physical function factors as predictors of crashes and driving performance were identified by searching Psycinfo and Medline databases from 1991 to 2002. To be included, studies had
Cognitive factors in relation to driving outcomes
For the purposes of this review and discussion cognitive tests are grouped according to the general cognitive ability they are intended to measure.
Acknowledgements
Kaarin Anstey, Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Joanne Wood, Queensland University of Technology, Stephen Lord, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute and University of New South Wales, Janine Walker, Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University. This research was funded by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (179839). We thank Dr Tim Windsor for his assistance.
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