PapersFlow Research Brief
Older Adults Driving Studies
Research Guide
What is Older Adults Driving Studies?
Older Adults Driving Studies is a research field examining mobility, driving safety, cessation factors, cognitive and visual impairments, self-regulation, and their effects on health outcomes and quality of life in older adults.
This field includes 22,288 works focused on assessment tools, predictors of driving performance, and the link between mobility and well-being in later life. Studies address driving cessation, cognitive factors, visual impairment, safety, neuropsychological functioning, self-regulation, health outcomes, and quality of life. Growth rate over the past five years is not available.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Older Driver Crash Risk Factors
This sub-topic examines epidemiological data and risk models identifying cognitive, sensory, and medical predictors of motor vehicle crashes among drivers aged 65 and older. Researchers develop predictive algorithms and analyze real-world collision data to quantify crash involvement rates.
Driving Fitness Assessment Tools
This sub-topic focuses on the validation and utility of on-road tests, simulators, and neuropsychological batteries for evaluating driving competency in older adults. Researchers compare clinical assessments like visual field tests and cognitive screens against actual driving performance outcomes.
Older Driver Self-Regulation Strategies
This sub-topic investigates how older adults voluntarily modify driving habits, such as avoiding night driving or complex intersections, in response to perceived declines in ability. Studies explore psychological motivations, awareness of deficits, and effectiveness in mitigating crash risk.
Predictors of Driving Cessation
This sub-topic analyzes longitudinal data on demographic, health, and functional factors precipitating driving cessation among older adults. Researchers model trajectories of mobility loss and develop interventions to delay unnecessary relinquishment of driving privileges.
Impact of Driving Cessation on Health
This sub-topic studies the consequences of driving cessation on depression, social isolation, physical activity, and mortality in older adults. Researchers employ cohort studies to link mobility restriction with quality-of-life declines and well-being metrics.
Why It Matters
Research in older adults driving studies informs policies on driving safety and mobility preservation, directly impacting public health and transportation. Anstey et al. (2004) identified cognitive, sensory, and physical factors enabling driving safety, aiding development of targeted assessments for at-risk drivers. Owsley (1998) demonstrated that visual processing impairment, prevalent in older adults, increases motor vehicle crash risk, supporting vision screening protocols. Harada, Natelson Love, and Triebel (2013) outlined normal cognitive aging processes relevant to driving performance evaluation. These findings guide rehabilitation practices, with 22,288 papers providing evidence for interventions that reduce crash risks and maintain independence, as seen in studies linking reduced useful field of view to higher crash rates among the elderly.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
'Cognitive, sensory and physical factors enabling driving safety in older adults' by Anstey et al. (2004) first, as it directly reviews key predictors of driving performance central to the field.
Key Papers Explained
'Cognitive, sensory and physical factors enabling driving safety in older adults' by Anstey et al. (2004) synthesizes cognitive and sensory predictors, building on Owsley's (1998) 'Visual Processing Impairment and Risk of Motor Vehicle Crash Among Older Adults' which quantifies visual risks. Harada, Natelson Love, and Triebel's (2013) 'Normal Cognitive Aging' provides foundational cognitive context applied to driving. Webber, Porter, and Menec (2010) extend this in 'Mobility in Older Adults: A Comprehensive Framework' to link driving mobility with overall well-being.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Current frontiers emphasize integrating cognitive aging models with real-time driving assessments, extending Anstey et al. (2004) and Harada et al. (2013) amid no recent preprints or news.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Normal Cognitive Aging | 2013 | Clinics in Geriatric M... | 2.1K | ✓ |
| 2 | Fear of falling: measurement strategy, prevalence, risk factor... | 2008 | Age and Ageing | 1.4K | ✓ |
| 3 | Association between Cellular-Telephone Calls and Motor Vehicle... | 1997 | New England Journal of... | 1.2K | ✓ |
| 4 | Cell phone-induced failures of visual attention during simulat... | 2003 | Journal of Experimenta... | 1.0K | ✕ |
| 5 | Cognitive, sensory and physical factors enabling driving safet... | 2004 | Clinical Psychology Re... | 962 | ✕ |
| 6 | User preferences regarding autonomous vehicles | 2017 | Transportation Researc... | 930 | ✕ |
| 7 | Measuring Life‐Space Mobility in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults | 2003 | Journal of the America... | 906 | ✕ |
| 8 | Cognitive impairment after stroke: frequency, patterns, and re... | 1994 | Journal of Neurology N... | 861 | ✓ |
| 9 | Mobility in Older Adults: A Comprehensive Framework | 2010 | The Gerontologist | 847 | ✓ |
| 10 | Visual Processing Impairment and Risk of Motor Vehicle Crash A... | 1998 | JAMA | 845 | ✕ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What cognitive factors affect driving safety in older adults?
Cognitive, sensory, and physical factors enable driving safety in older adults, as detailed in 'Cognitive, sensory and physical factors enabling driving safety in older adults' by Anstey et al. (2004). Normal cognitive aging involves changes assessed in driving contexts, per Harada, Natelson Love, and Triebel (2013). These factors predict performance and inform safety assessments.
How does visual impairment relate to crash risk in older drivers?
Visual processing impairment increases motor vehicle crash risk among older adults, with reduction in useful field of view as a key indicator, according to Owsley (1998). This impairment is relatively prevalent in the elderly, warranting further examination of eye disease. The study highlights visual dysfunction as a cause of crashes and injury.
What is the role of mobility in older adults' quality of life?
Mobility is fundamental to active aging and linked to health status and quality of life, as framed in 'Mobility in Older Adults: A Comprehensive Framework' by Webber, Porter, and Menec (2010). Life-space mobility can be measured reliably using tools like the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging Life-Space Assessment, per Sawyer Baker, Bodner, and Allman (2003). These measures detect changes over time in community-dwelling older adults.
What assessment tools are used in older adults driving studies?
Assessment tools evaluate life-space mobility, cognitive function, and visual processing in older adults. 'Measuring Life‐Space Mobility in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults' by Sawyer Baker, Bodner, and Allman (2003) validates the Life-Space Assessment for detecting changes. Visual processing tests identify crash risks, as in Owsley (1998).
How do cognitive impairments post-stroke affect driving?
Cognitive impairment occurs frequently after stroke, with patterns relating to functional abilities including driving, as examined in Tatemichi et al. (1994). In 227 patients three months post-ischemic stroke, impairments in memory, orientation, and other skills were assessed against controls. Adjustments showed associations with daily functions.
Open Research Questions
- ? What specific neuropsychological tests best predict driving cessation in older adults with cognitive decline?
- ? How do combined visual and cognitive impairments interact to elevate crash risk beyond individual effects?
- ? Which self-regulation strategies most effectively extend safe driving years without increasing collision rates?
- ? What interventions mitigate mobility loss following driving cessation in community-dwelling older adults?
Recent Trends
The field encompasses 22,288 works with no specified five-year growth rate.
High-citation papers from 1994-2013 dominate, including Owsley at 845 citations on visual risks and Anstey et al. (2004) at 962 citations on enabling factors, indicating sustained focus on cognitive, visual, and mobility predictors without recent preprint or news updates.
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