Cognitive test performance and crash risk in an older driver population

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Traffic Safety
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Older drivers represent a growing demographic, raising concerns about driving safety.
• Cognitive decline is a potential risk factor for impaired driving performance and crash involvement in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of five brief cognitive tests in identifying older drivers at increased risk of motor vehicle crashes.
• To determine the association between cognitive function and crash risk in the older driver population.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 3238 drivers aged 65 and older completed five cognitive function tests.
• Crash data for the three years preceding testing were obtained from the North Carolina driver history file.
• Statistical analyses controlled for driver age, race, and driving exposure.

Main Results:

• Individual cognitive tests were not highly effective as standalone screening tools for high-risk drivers.
• Cognitive test performance was significantly associated with crash risk, even after adjusting for covariates.
• Drivers in the lowest 10% of cognitive test performance were approximately 1.5 times more likely to be involved in crashes compared to those in the highest 10%.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive function is a significant predictor of crash risk in older drivers.
• While not perfect screening tools, cognitive assessments offer valuable insights into older driver safety.
• Findings support the need for counseling and informed licensing decisions for older drivers and highlight areas for future research.