The American Medical Association (AMA) launched a free Web-based educational course to help physicians address the driving safety of their older patients. “Medical Fitness to Drive: Is your Patient at Risk?” was created by the AMA in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to help physicians identify when medical conditions may impair their patients’ ability to drive.
"A driver's license symbolizes independence for many older people, and the decision to reduce or stop driving can have both practical and emotional implications," said AMA president Peter W. Carmel, MD. "This AMA-developed tool will better help physicians evaluate the ability of their older patients to operate motor vehicles safely, initiate referrals and medical treatment to improve function when possible and facilitate what can be a difficult conversation with patients and caregivers about driving safety."
The AMA encourages physicians to make driver safety a routine part of their geriatric medical services. “Medical Fitness to Drive” will provide assessment tools, case studies and additional resources for physicians to better evaluate and counsel older drivers in their care.
The AMA conducted a pilot study for this Web-based course and 87 percent of physicians who participated said that they learned specific techniques or tools that will enhance their practices regarding older drivers.
“Getting older shouldn’t mean the end of driving for our nation’s seniors - but medical problems can sometimes impair an individual’s ability to drive safely,” said David Strickland, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in a press release. “The AMA’s Web-based tool should help physicians assess patients’ capacity to operate a vehicle and help keep everyone on our roads more safe.”
According to NHTSA, in 2009, 5,288 people age 65 and older were killed and 187,000 were injured in traffic crashes. Senior drivers made up 13 percent of drivers, 16 percent of all traffic fatalities and 8 percent of all people injured in traffic crashes during the year.
Motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of injury-related death in adults over 65. Older drivers have a higher risk of traffic fatalities because they are considerably more fragile and more likely to suffer a fatal injury in the event of a crash than their younger counterparts.
“Medical Fitness to Drive” will be available for continuing educational credits for physicians and other healthcare professionals. For more information on older driver safety, visit www.ama-assn.org/go/olderdrivers.