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Drawing clocks and driving cars
Barbara Freund1, Stefan Gravenstein, Rebecca Ferris
1The Glennan Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA. freundbm@evms.edu <freundbm@evms.edu>
Journal of General Internal Medicine
|April 20, 2005
Summary
A new scoring method for the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) reliably identifies older drivers with declining driving competence. This screening tool accurately predicts driving simulator performance and indicates a need for further evaluation in elderly drivers.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Traffic Safety
Background:
- Driving is crucial for older adults' independence.
- Assessing driving competence in aging populations is essential.
- The Clock Drawing Test (CDT) assesses executive function, relevant to driving skills.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a new scoring method for the CDT.
- To determine the reliability and validity of the CDT for identifying declining driving competence in older adults.
- To assess the CDT's effectiveness as a screening tool for elderly drivers.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study involving 119 community-dwelling drivers aged 60+.
- Participants underwent a Clock Drawing Test (CDT) and a driving simulation test.
- A new CDT scoring scale was used and compared with driving simulator performance.
Main Results:
- The CDT demonstrated high accuracy (AUC=0.90) in predicting driving simulation outcomes.
- Lower CDT scores correlated with increased driving errors, indicating declining driving performance.
- Interrater reliability for CDT scores was high (0.95).
- Drivers scoring below 5 on the CDT made significantly more hazardous driving errors.
Conclusions:
- The CDT is a reliable and valid tool for screening elderly drivers.
- The CDT effectively identifies executive function deficits impacting driving.
- This scoring scale is a time-effective method for flagging drivers needing further evaluation.