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Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Driving Simulation in the Clinic: Testing Visual Exploratory Behavior in Daily Life Activities in Patients with Visual Field Defects
Published on: September 18, 2012
CE: Can Your Older Patients Drive Safely?
Loren Staplin1, Kathy H Lococo, Tia Mastromatto
1Loren Staplin is the managing partner, Kathy H. Lococo is a research associate, and Tia Mastromatto is a research assistant, all at TransAnalytics, Quakertown, PA. Kathy J. Sifrit is the contracting officer's technical representative at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC. Kathleen M. Trazzera is the clinical director at White Horse Village, Newton Square, PA. Contact author: Loren Staplin, lstaplin@transanalytics.com. Loren Staplin has served as principal investigator on numerous contracts awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Highway Administration. The authors and planners have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
As aging affects driving abilities, identifying older adults at higher risk for accidents is crucial. Nurses can help by raising awareness and connecting patients to resources for safe driving or alternative transportation.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Nursing
Background:
- Driving is essential for older adults' independence, comfort, and security.
- Aging and age-related diseases can impair functional abilities, increasing crash risk.
- Preventive medicine strategies are needed to address older driver safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify age-related driving risks.
- To inform nurses on assessing and intervening with at-risk older drivers.
- To highlight community resources supporting older adult mobility.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on aging and driving safety.
- Discussion of nursing interventions for older drivers.
- Exploration of community-based transportation solutions.
Main Results:
- Normal aging and diseases significantly impact older drivers' functional capacity.
- Increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, injury, and fatality among older adults.
- Nurses play a key role in risk identification and intervention.
Conclusions:
- Early identification and intervention are vital for older drivers at increased risk.
- Nurses can educate patients on age-related driving risks.
- Connecting older adults to resources promotes continued safe driving or alternative transport.
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