Driving choices for the older motorist: the role of self-assessment tools

Abstract

This report investigates whether self-assessment tools can help older drivers make the right choices about their driving. It tells us something about how our abilities change with age and how this impacts on driving skills, how you can go about testing for these, and whether self-assessment tools can help drivers self-regulate. Most importantly this report tells us what self-assessment tools can do, what they cannot do and what they should include if they are to be helpful. The right self-assessment tools can provide useful feedback on driving strengths, weaknesses and future mobility options. They can help facilitate discussion between older drivers and family members. They cannot, however, replace the professional assessment of driving skills and they should not be promoted for this purpose unless significant effort and resource is available for their validation. Ultimately, the problem remains that there is no consistent support system in place to assist members of the public with decisions about driving in older age. Although the majority of motorists cease driving at the right time, up to a third may be stopping driving earlier than necessary, with a further 10 per cent continuing to take to the roads with poor levels of driving fitness.