ELDERLY DRIVING BEHAVIOR AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS: Analysis of License Renewal Course Data

ObjectivesTo analyze the relationship between cognitive functions, driving conditions, and driving behavior among participants in driving license renewal courses for the elderly.MethodAnalysis was performed on data from 79 elderly people who attended license renewal courses at driving schools and agreed to take part in this study. Data acquisition on cognitive function and driving behavior were performed through the use of driving simulation tests, actual driving behavior assessments at the schools, as well as a unique set of questionnaires and Trail Making Tests (TMT).ResultSubjects who fared better in the TMT-A test, which measured processing speed, had a significantly higher incidence of accidents involving minor property damage (P=0.038), demonstrated better results in simple reaction time (P=0.009) and steering error rate (P=0.049), and needed less advice for negotiating bends during driver assessment (P=0.030), compared to subjects from the lower achievement group. According to the TMT-B test, which required more complex cognitive processing, driving frequency (P=0.019), simple reaction time deviation (P=0.049), and steering error rate (P=0.011) were better in subjects who completed the test, compared to those who did not, and significantly fewer (P=0.027) subjects required advice for problems relating to passing parked vehicle during driving behavior.DiscussionsOf the 30 items monitored in the study, significant differences were evident in only a few. Because the evidence did not suggest a particular link to accident experience, it will be necessary to obtain objective data from other cognitive function tests and driving behavior for reassessment. various problems related to elderly driving in Japan were discussed.