None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The private automobile is the preferred and most utilised transport option for older people in Australia. Longitudinal studies of ageing in Australia have examined driving patterns and transport use of older people and have found that people are continuing to drive well into later life, to a much greater extent than previous generations. While people 65 years or older represent 13% of the total Australian population in 2004, this is expected to double to 26% by 2051. Although a large proportion of older adults are safe drivers, studies indicate that older drivers are overrepresented in crashes per distance travelled, particularly with regard to serious injuries or death as a consequence of crash involvement. Our research and that of others indicate that older adults with cognitive, sensory and physical functional decline are more likely to be unsafe drivers, and our recent has successfully developed and validated off-road assessment tools for accurate identification of at-risk older drivers. Here, we propose to develop and trial a training program to improve the driving skills of older adults. Such a program will increase road safety, while maintaining mobility and independence for older drivers and promote healthy, productive ageing.
Interventions
Tailored Driving Instruction:
Participants allocated to the intervention group will attend a 2-hour Road Rules refresher course (prior to randomisation) - see control treatment for details.
After randomisation, they will complete two one hour driver training sessions with a qualified driving instructor. The lessons will be conducted between 1 and 14 days apart. The instructor will use the skill profile indicated by the baseline on-road assessment to tailor the driving instruction.
The first
Tailored Driving Instruction: Participants allocated to the intervention group will attend a 2-hour Road Rules refresher course (prior to randomisation) - see control treatment for details. After randomisation, they will complete two one hour driver training sessions with a qualified driving instructor. The lessons will be conducted between 1 and 14 days apart. The instructor will use the skill profile indicated by the baseline on-road assessment to tailor the driving instruction. The first session will also include video-footage assisted feedback from the baseline on-road session, instructor assisted adjustment of seat, mirrors, etc. More complex modifications such as steering wheel spinner knobs or hand controls will not be fitted as this will introduce significant variation to learning rate across participants. The first session will be conducted in a dual-break vehicle. The second session will be in the participant's own vehicle. Each session will include instructor guided driving practice, using routes within or near the participant's usual driving range that includes opportunity for training the specific skills requiring improvement (e.g., uncontrolled intersections, lane changes etc.).
Sponsors
The Australian National University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Aged 65 years and over. Current drivers license with no restrictions on driving area, current driver, plans to continue driving for the next 12 months. Has not engaged in driver education in the past 6 months.
Exclusion criteria
Aged below 65 years. Area restricted license or no valid license. Valid license but no longer driving. Plans to cease driving within the next 12 months. Has done a driver education course in the past 6 months.
Outcome results
None listed