CIHR Team in Driving in Older Persons (CANDRIVE)

• At-Fault Motor Vehicle Collisions (MVC) [ Time Frame: Throughout the 5-year period ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  Motor Vehicle Collision as determined through the provincial Ministry of Transportation records.
  
  

• Health Status [ Time Frame: Any point throughout 5-year study ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  Physical, cognitive (i.e. Montreal Cognitive Assessment) and psychological assessment measures
  
  

Driving a motor vehicle has become an everyday necessity in modern Canadian culture. The privilege of maintaining a valid driver's license promotes an independent lifestyle (Voelker, 1999). Since driving is a demanding task that requires a high level of mental and physical skills, it is critical that those who obtain a valid driver's license are medically fit to operate a motor vehicle. Adverse health conditions make driving difficult based on the high cognitive and physical demand (Man-Son-Hing, 2007, Marshall, 2008). The loss of driving privileges due to chronic health conditions can have a negative effect on an individual's quality of life. These individuals require greater community support and suffer from low self-esteem (Fonda, 2001, Ragland, 2004, Ansley et al., 2004). As much as it is desirable to promote independence, the safety implications of driving require careful consideration.

In Canada, persons over the age of 65 represent the fastest growing segment of the population. This age group is predicted to make up 24 % of the total population by the year 2030 (CMA Journal, 1994, Stats Can, 2005). As a result, the number of older persons holding a driver's license has increased in both percentage and absolute terms (Ont Road Safety, 2004, Transport Can, 2001, Ragland, 2004, Ansley et al., 2004). Therefore, it is not surprising that those over 70 years of age have the highest crash rates per mile driven (Brorsson, 1989, Stutts & Wilkins, 2003, Gresset & Meyer, 1994, Cotrell & Wild, 1999, Rizzo et al., 2001, Meddinger-Rapport, 2002, Ansley et al., 2004).

Candrive is an interdisciplinary health research program dedicated to improving the safety of older drivers in Canada. The members of Candrive believe that establishing a comprehensive approach to aging driver issues will reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with motor vehicle crashes and allow older Canadian drivers to maintain their independence and healthy lifestyles.

A major focus of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Team Grant is to conduct the Common Cohort study, a study in which 1000 drivers age 70 or older will be recruited and followed for 5 years. The Common Cohort study involves 7 sites (Victoria, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal) in 4 provinces. Participants in the Common Cohort study will undergo comprehensive annual assessments as well as having their driving patterns monitored for 5 years. One of the major objectives of the Common Cohort study will be the development of a valid, easy-to-use in-office screening tool that will help clinicians identify older drivers who may need further assessment of their driving ability.

The vision of Candrive is to use a national interdisciplinary research approach to improve the safety and health-related quality-of-life of older drivers. Collaboration with key stakeholders throughout the process ensures that research products will translate into public policy and clinical practice.