title: Assessment of older drivers in New Zealand: the current system, research and recommendations.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to clarify the current New Zealand driving licensing requirements for older adults and to provide practical recommendations for those health professionals who make decisions regarding driving ability in older adults. Health professionals involved in the assessment of older drivers were asked to clarify areas where more efficient use could be made of assessment resources. A review of driving literature was performed to find specific factors associated with increased risk of negative driving outcomes in older adults. Particular attention was paid to the suitability of different types of on-road assessment for certain patient groups, the effect of specific diseases and medications on driving safety, and the effect of cognitive impairment. A list of seven recommendations were compiled which include a focus on appropriate on-road driving assessment referral, driver refresher courses, cognitive screening for those presenting for licence renewal and sensitive broaching of the topic of driving cessation.
authors.affiliation: Van der Veer Institute for Parkinson's and Brain Research, Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand. petra.hoggarth@vanderveer.org.nz
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoggarth
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Innes
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dalrymple-Alford
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Croucher
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Severinsen
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oxley
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brook
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abernethy
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001333:Automobile Driver Examination; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000592:standards; D003071:Cognition; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure / Q000592:standards; D009520:New Zealand; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014785:Vision, Ocular