Additional Resources for Physicians
National Highway Transportation Safety Authority (NHTSA)
This agency works to direct highway safety and consumer programs in order to support motor vehicle and highway safety.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency in the Department of Transportation whose mission is to “Save lives, prevent injuries, reduce vehicle-related crashes.” This site has resources for information:
- Traffic safety with older adults
- How to influence older drivers,
- How to drive safely while aging, and
- How to adapt motor vehicles for older drivers.
- Research that might be relevant, has safety plans for older drivers, and information on screening driving skills.
Free handbooks for your Patients and Waiting Areas
The Hartford and MIT Aging Lab together developed an excellent resource of publications for a variety of topics related to older drivers. These can be downloaded at this link OR guidebooks can be ordered for your office to be available for your patients.
- Your Road Ahead: A Guide to Comprehensive Driving Evaluations,
- At the Crossroads: Family Conversations about Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia and Driving, and
- We Need to Talk: Family Conversations with Older Drivers might be the most valuable.
Comprehensive Driving Evaluations
Occupational therapists have the science-based knowledge to understand the progressive conditions and life changes that can affect driving. Because of our commitment to assist clients and patients mobile in their community, the American Occupational Therapy Association has website with multiple resources for physicians as well as other stakeholders.
Find a Driving Evaluation Program
Specifically, a physician can find an occupational therapist who specializes in driver rehabilitation for their patients in their local area.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety researched and gathered the Driver Licensing Policies and Practices data from all 50 states. The database also has descriptions of noteworthy initiatives as related to medically at risk drivers and older drivers.
