When working with an older driver, you may notice a behavior that indicates the customer needs further assistance. These might include confusion, difficulty following directions, unsteadiness, vision issues, or limited range of motion/dexterity. Consider asking a few simple questions to determine if the individual might benefit from a screening or assessment. A tool that states have found useful includes this self-assessment. Developed by Training, Research, and Education for Driving Safety (TREDS), which is based at UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, this assessment is given to older drivers to evaluate if they are as safe as they think.
Based on your customer’s situation, you can provide information about helpful screenings and assessments. Self-assessments provide an objective test to evaluate older drivers’ safety behind the wheel. The Self-Assessment and Caregivers’ Rating Tools Handout includes simple questionnaires that an individual or family member/caregiver can use with their physician to determine if a more extensive, professional assessment might be necessary.
In addition, there are several tools that an older driver can use to modify their driving behavior, including:
- AAA, the American Occupational Therapy Association, and AARP have created CarFit. CarFit offers older drivers an opportunity to learn how to best position and seat themselves in the car. For more information and to find an event near you, visit the CarFit website.
- The Drivesharp tool from Posit Science teaches older drivers how to "retrain their brain" so that they can drive safer and longer.