Study of the functional profile predictor of on-road driving performance among elderly drivers.
elderly, driving, physical capacity, assessment and traffic.
The global population of licensed elderly drivers has seen a notable increase. It is known that physical and cognitive changes are inherent to the aging process. Sensory, cognitive and physical impairments among drivers are associated with the risk of accidents and poorer driving performance. In this context, the impact of physical disabilities on road performance remains insufficiently understood, especially in the Brazilian population, highlighting the need to assess fitness to drive in this demographic group. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical function of community-dwelling elderly Brazilian drivers in domains relevant to driving and then associate these findings with these drivers' performance on a standardized driving test in real-world urban traffic conditions. A sample of 139 volunteers (mean age 70.7 years) performed tests to assess physical functioning prior to the on-road assessment on an average standardized 10km route on urban roads. In this study, there was no association between physical functionality and general ability to drive. Errors in specific maneuvers (driving through intersections, changing lanes, and entering lanes) have been associated with declines in walking speed.