NEW YORK: Researchers will soon be tracking 3,000 senior drivers as part of an unprecedented project to better understand the safety and transportation needs of the aging.
This latest phase in the project is expected to clarify the effects of risk factors, like prescription drug use and deteriorating vision, on driving. The study will also explore decisions to stop driving and mobility options for seniors who no longer drive.
This month, five study sites will begin recruiting drivers between the ages 65 and 79. Their vehicles will be fitted with GPS devices to capture real time driving patterns. The data will let researchers assess maneuvers they make along with where and when seniors choose to drive. Traffic and accident records will also be followed. Participants must receive yearly medical examinations to measure physical and cognitive functions.
Little data exists about the relationship between aging and driving safety…