DriveABLE Assessment Centres

 Florida’s Elder Roadway User Program worked in conjunction with the DriveAble Assessment Centres to distinguish the safe from the unsafe driver 

Background

Program Goals:

To assess the driving fitness of an individual whose competence to drive is questionable due to the onset or progression of a medical condition

Intent:

Unintentional injuries

Risk Factors Addressed:

Driving competence of those who suffer from one or more medical conditions

Place of occurrence:

Community

Age/Age Range:

Adult drivers, specifically seniors 65+

Other Population Characteristics:

Slower response time; less agility; deteriorating vision and hearing

Resources

Year Developed:

1991

Collaborative Organization(s):

Neurocognitive Research Unit at Northern Alberta Geriatric Program; Edmonton General Hospital; Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital; Alberta Government; Alberta Motor Association (CAA Alberta)

Funding Resource(s):

Initial support for the research phase:
Alberta Mental Health Research Fund - $80,000
Alberta Health Services Research Innovation Fund - $302,397
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research - $40,000
Alzheimer Society of Canada - $99,905
Canadian Aging Research Network - $246,165
National Research Council IRAP grant - $23,800
In-kind support from Department of Psychology at University of Alberta; Edmonton General Hospital; Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital; and Alberta Motor Association
 Support for post-research phase:
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Technology commercialization Phase II - $150,000 and Phase III - $500,000 

Implementation

Context/Setting:

Community

Strategies Used:

Education; Engineering; Economic

Activities Used:

Referrals for assessment come from physicians, licensing authorities, insurance agencies and family/friends. Computer-based cognitive assessment; road evaluation. Individuals administer the assessment are trained and certified; Design of the road course is standardized based on specified elements - calibration of fail criterion to match the difficulty of the road course; screen assessment is standardized

Program Evaluation:

High level of standardization and ongoing monitoring and evaluation
Regular meetings with physicians and reviewing officers with licensing authorities
Surveys of drivers and caregivers who have completed the driving assessment process
Project is currently updating software to provide more automated quality assurance procedures

Source of Best Practice:

Road-related Neurotrauma and Road Safety: Opportunities and Challenges for Prevention Science.
Richard Volpe, John Lewko, & the LSAP Research Group, 2006

Original Source:

Peden, M., Scurfield, R., Sleet, D., Mohan, D., Hyder, A., Jarawan, E., Mathers, C. (2004). World Report on road traffic injury prevention. Retrieved June 5, 2004 from http://www.who.int/world-healthday/2004/infomaterials/world_report/en/ 

Supplementary Material:

http://www.driveable.com/

Local Example(s):

Partnership with the Ontario Safety League, locations in Toronto, London, Ottawa/Kingston, Windsor, Guelph, Milton. Centres also in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec & Nova Scotia

Contact Information: 

Allen R. Dobbs, PhD
Founder, President and Chairman of the Board
DriveABLE  Assessment Centres, Inc.
Suite 202, 100500 - 112 St
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2J1
Tel: 780-433-1494

Outcomes

Long-term outcomes/Effectiveness:

Research projects in Canada and elsewhere have adopted the assessment process as their driving competence criterion in studies including  stroke, rehabilitation using simulators, and Alzheimer’s Disease. DriveABLE is also likely the only evaluation process which meets the criteria of the Supreme Court of Canada in relation to discrimination and driving evaluations for disabled individuals.

Short-term outcomes:

Drivers who have an unsafe level of errors from the evaluation and assessment have been asked to stop driving; less risk of injury for driver, other road users, and community

Other

Date of Review:

2005

Classification:

Best Practice