TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - Avoidance behavior is an independent indicator of poorer on-road driving skills in older adults
JO  - Journals of gerontology. Series B: psychological sciences and social sciences
A1  - Schulz, Philipp
A1  - Beblo, Thomas
A1  - Spannhorst, Stefan
A1  - Labudda, Kirsten
A1  - Wagner, Thomas
A1  - Bertke, Volkmar
A1  - Boedeker, Sebastian
A1  - Driessen, Martin
A1  - Kreisel, Stefan H.
A1  - Toepper, Max
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current work was to investigate the relationship between avoidance of specific driving situations and on-road driving skills in older drivers considering factors found to be related to both avoidance behavior and driving skills. <br><br>METHOD: Seventy-two older drivers (M = 76 years) from the general population were included in this study. Self-reported avoidance behavior, driving practice, perceived driving difficulties, driving-related cognitive functions, as well as medical conditions were assessed within two sessions. Standardized on-road assessments served for assessing on-road driving skills in a third session. <br><br>RESULTS: Self-reported avoidance behavior was associated with reduced driving skills (r = -0.41), and this relationship remained significant beyond the influence of cognitive skills, self-reported health, driving practice, and perceived driving difficulties. Specifically, avoidance of driving in bad weather, poor visibility and complicated parking was found to be associated with reduced driving skills. <br><br>DISCUSSION: This study suggest that avoidance behavior is an independent indicator of impaired driving skills in older drivers. Our results argue against the assumption that avoidance behavior may be a reasonable strategy for safe traffic participation. Longitudinal studies are urgently needed to get more evidence on safety aspects of avoidance behavior.<br><br>© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1079-5014
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbz063
ID  - ref1
ER  -