Attentional problems and older drivers

At a society level, there is a responsibility to meet the mobility needs of a growing population of older adults. Simultaneously, it is understood that some older adults will experience behavioral and/or physical changes that may preclude driving at some point in their lives. Because most older adults rely on the automobile to maintain their mobility and independence, there is sometimes reluctance to stop driving when impairments develop. Recent research has been aimed at finding ways to distinguish those drivers who may pose a threat to their own safety, as well as the safety of other road users, from the vast majority of competent drivers. These studies have indicated that measures of visual attention and cognitive function have been successful in distinguishing between these two groups. Finally, because visual attention skills can be improved with training, these findings have important implications for further evaluation of interventions to enhance the skills that underlie safe driving.