Conclusions The Timed Up- and -Go test measure appears not to be a useful measure of physical functioning for the driving outcomes included here .
The Rapid Pace Walk may be useful in studies of driving ability and exposure .
Background Improving physical functioning may be a future intervention to keep older adults driving safely longer as it can help maintain both physical and cognitive health longer .
This systematic review assesses the evidence on the association between three physical functioning measures : the Short Physical Performance Battery , the Timed Up- and -Go test , and the Rapid Pace Walk with driving outcomes in older adults .
Using a driving simulator to identify older drivers at inflated risk of motor vehicle crashes.
PROBLEM To develop appropriate assessment criteria to measure the performance of older drivers using an interactive PC-based driving simulator , and to determine which measures were associated with the occurrence of motor-vehicle crash . METHOD One hundred and twenty-nine older drivers residing in a metropolitan city volunteered to participate in this retrospective cohort study . Using the driving simulator , appropriate driving tasks were devised to test the older drivers , whose performances were assessed by 10 reliable assessment criteria . Logistic regression analysis was then undertaken to determine those criteria that influence the self-reported crash outcome . RESULTS As expected , driving skill of older drivers was found to decline with age . Over 60 % of the sample participants reported having at least one motor-vehicle crash during the past year . Adjusting for age in a logistic regression analysis , the cognitive abilities associated with the crash occurrence were working memory , decision making under pressure of time , and confidence in driving at high speed . SUMMARY The findings of this retrospective study indicated those individuals at inflated risk of vehicle crashes could be identified using the PC-based interactive driving simulator . Prospect i ve studies need to be undertaken to determine whether the driving simulator can predict future crash events . IMPACT ON INDUSTRY This study demonstrated an economical driving simulator approach to screen out problematic or unsafe older drivers before a more detailed but expensive road test is considered
Conclusions The Timed Up- and -Go test measure appears not to be a useful measure of physical functioning for the driving outcomes included here .
The Rapid Pace Walk may be useful in studies of driving ability and exposure .
Background Improving physical functioning may be a future intervention to keep older adults driving safely longer as it can help maintain both physical and cognitive health longer .
This systematic review assesses the evidence on the association between three physical functioning measures : the Short Physical Performance Battery , the Timed Up- and -Go test , and the Rapid Pace Walk with driving outcomes in older adults .