The use of a cognitive battery to predict who will fail an on-road driving test

There is a growing need to find a valid and reliable neuropsychological battery to screen out those people who are clearly unsafe to drive following brain injury or pathology, and thus alleviate the need to refer for an on-road assessment.

A battery of cognitive tests fine-tuned for their relevance to driving was examined in terms of its sensitivity and specificity for predicting who would fail an on-road test following brain injury or pathology.

Performance on the battery was compared to the results of an on-road driving test in a consecutive series of 142 clients referred to a driving assessment centre following brain injury or pathology. The group represented diverse neurological conditions which affect brain functioning.

The overall accuracy rate of the battery in predicting a fail on-road was 92% and in predicting a pass on road was 71%. It was more accurate for those under 70 with 100% accuracy in predicting a fail on-road and 85% accuracy in predicting a pass on-road, but less accurate for those aged 70 or above with 85% accuracy in predicting a fail on-road and 37% accuracy in predicting a pass on-road.

The battery is a useful tool in helping to determine whether someone is safe to drive following brain injury but needs to be used with far more caution for the older driver.