Document Detail


Medical review of fitness to drive in older drivers: the Maryland experience.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18696391     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Over the next several decades, both the number and percentage of older drivers will increase dramatically. Older age is inherently associated with medical conditions, particularly those involving cognition and vision, that can affect medical fitness to drive. Over a 60-year period, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) in conjunction with its medical advisory board (MAB) has matured a comprehensive system to identify at-risk older drivers and to assess their medical fitness to drive. METHODS: This paper describes the medical review process in general, and in particular for older drivers, that has evolved in the state of Maryland. The resources, philosophy and research underpinnings of its MAB review process are examined. RESULTS: Studies of functional screening measures in older drivers indicate that older drivers at risk of being at-fault for future crashes can be identified. The feasibility of using such screening measures for drivers referred to the MVA has been confirmed by practical use for a period of seven years. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to create a medical review process with a goal of "safe mobility for life" that supports preservation of the driving privilege among many older drivers.
Authors:
Carl A Soderstrom; John J Joyce
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Traffic injury prevention     Volume:  9     ISSN:  1538-957X     ISO Abbreviation:  Traffic Inj Prev     Publication Date:  2008 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-08-12     Completed Date:  2008-10-24     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101144385     Medline TA:  Traffic Inj Prev     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  342-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Medical Advisory Board, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21062, USA. csoderstrom@mdot.state.md.us
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Accident Prevention / standards,  statistics & numerical data
Accidents, Traffic / prevention & control*,  statistics & numerical data
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Automobile Driving / legislation & jurisprudence*,  statistics & numerical data
Female
Geriatric Assessment
Health Status
Humans
Licensure / legislation & jurisprudence,  statistics & numerical data
Male
Maryland
Mental Competency
Mental Status Schedule
Physical Fitness / physiology*,  psychology*
Risk Assessment
Safety Management
Task Performance and Analysis

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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