The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59790

Claire Wang, MD, Catherine Kosinski, MSW, and Joanne G. Schwartzberg, MD. Medicine and Public Health, American Medical Association, 515 N State Street, Chicago, IL 60610

There is growing need for the health care community to address the safety issues facing the older driver population. While older drivers are generally safe drivers, drivers over the age of 75 show excessive fatality rates per vehicle mile traveled, due to increased fragility and crash over-involvement. Excessive crash rates may be due to underlying impairments in vision, motor function and cognition. As the nation’s older population continues to grow, the health care community is increasingly called upon to address the growing public health issue of keeping older drivers safe, yet mobile.

The American Medical Association (AMA), with support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has developed the Physician’s Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers. The physician’s guide contains two tools: an office-based assessment of vision, motor function and cognition as they relate to driving fitness, and a list of medical conditions and medications that may impair driving performance. The guide also discusses referral options for treatment and rehabilitation; tips for counseling patients who are no longer safe to drive; and legal and ethical issues in the management of the unsafe driver. In addition, the guide also includes handouts to facilitate discussions with patients, their caregivers, and family members of older drivers.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to:
• Understand why older drivers may be at increased risk for motor vehicle fatalities
• Identify the areas of function that are important for safe driving
• Describe how health care professionals can help their patients maintain their driving safety

Keywords: Elderly, Safety

Related Web page: www.ama-assn.org/go/olderdrivers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: "Physician's Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers" American Medical Association
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.