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Safety for Older Drivers is Goal of New Website
June 26, 2004 - Senior Citizens, their families and
health professionals with older driver safety questions now have a
web-based resource with a variety of information, including a
comprehensive database listing hundreds of driving rehabilitation
specialists located throughout the US.
The Web site was developed by the American
Occupational Therapy Association, with funding from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, The University of Florida, and the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The address is
http://www.aota.org/olderdriver.
The new Web site is kept current with content from
a variety of top organizations in senior advocacy, health, and
transportation, including the American Occupational Therapy Association
(AOTA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the
American Automobile Association (AAA), the American Association of
Retired Persons (AARP), the American Medical Association (AMA), the
American Society on Aging (ASA), the Administration on Aging (AOA), and
other notable groups.
It is targeted to senior drivers, their families,
physicians, and others in the health community.
Content includes:
National Driver Rehabilitation Specialist Locator
Listing of Driving Refresher Courses
Driving Self-Tests from AAA, AARP, University of Michigan, NHTSA
Factsheets for Health Professionals about Occupational Therapy and
Driving
Consumer Tip Sheets, Information Booklets, and other materials
Information on Driving with Different Medical Conditions
Physician Guidelines on Driving from the American Medical Association
Links to Municipal Area Agencies on Aging
Links to Information on Adaptive Equipment
Older driver safety is seen by transportation
experts as an emerging public health issue, especially as baby boomers
start receiving their AARP cards. The Department of Transportation
estimates that in 2050 over 70 million drivers will be age 65 or
older
.thats 1 in 5, compared to 1 in 8 today. Although older drivers
are not involved in more traffic accidents than other adult age groups,
they are far more likely to experience serious injury and fatality as a
result of a crash, and the likelihood for injury increases with age.
This is at the heart of efforts to reduce the number of older driver
crashes.
When driver safety is a concern, occupational
therapy is recommended to clinically assess an individuals vision,
perception, cognition, and motor performance as they relate to driving.
Occupational therapists trained as Driver Rehabilitation Specialists
help clients explore options to enhance their driving skills, including
the use of adaptive equipment and training. When driving cessation is
the safest choice, they help identify the best mobility options on a
case-by-case basis.
Occupational therapists have always helped people
stay involved in meaningful activities, said AOTA President, Carolyn
Baum, Ph.D., we want seniors to know were here to help with driving
and community mobility as well. This website will answer many of the
questions older drivers and their families have about driver safety.
The role of occupational therapy is to enhance each
persons ability to perform activities of daily living, such as bathing,
eating, and interacting with others. These things are frequently taken
for granted, but they actually help define who we are and help us to
live longer, healthier lives. To an occupational therapist, driving is
an instrumental activity of daily living, or IADL.
The Occupational Therapy and Driving Web site is
open to health professionals and to the public. Visit
http://www.aota.org/olderdriver.
The American Occupational Therapy Association,
established in 1917, represents nearly 40,000 members. In addition to
its publishing and professional development programs, AOTA is an active
advocate for the profession, and for individuals who can benefit from
occupational therapy services. |
