Self-assessment of older drivers with brain pathologies: reported habits and self-regulation of driving

- Self-reported driving behaviour of 44 healthy older drivers and 93 patients with brain pathologies, was analyzed through an extensive questionnaire assessment.
- Older drivers with brain pathologies were aware of deterioration in their driving performance.
- Patients reported compensating for driving difficulties either by conservative driving or by driving avoidance.
- Patients reported avoiding in-vehicle distraction (conversing with passenger or using a mobile phone).

The objective of this paper is to analyze the self-reported driving behaviour of older drivers with and without brain pathologies affecting cognition, in order to explore possible differences in self-perception of driving behaviour, through an extensive questionnaire assessment. The diagnostic categories examined include Alzheimer׳s disease, Parkinson׳s disease, and Mild Cognitive Impairment. The questionnaire was answered by 137 drivers with similar demographic characteristics, out of which 44 were healthy individuals and 93 had a brain pathology. It included questions about their driving routines, possible avoidance of driving, and their emotions and behaviours while driving. The participants were also asked about their opinion about in-vehicle driver distraction and how they deal with it. A comparison of the two groups with Kruskal-Wallis and One-Way ANOVAs, produced several statistically significant results. Patients tended to report that they were more likely to avoid using their vehicle because they were afraid of their driving abilities than healthy drivers. Regarding distraction, patients considered it too dangerous to converse with a passenger and even more so, to use the mobile phone and for that reason they reported avoiding to do so. Patients with brain pathologies reported being quite calm while driving. Overall, drivers with brain pathologies were aware of deterioration in their driving performance, and reported trying to compensate for their driving difficulties either by conservative driving or by driving avoidance.