General cognitive impairment tests can effectively predict driving ability
the verdict
REFUTED
the evidence says no
refutedsupported
the weight of evidence
1 source for · 2 against
The literature indicates that early studies on cognitive impairment generally failed to distinguish between safe and unsafe drivers, showing that traditional cognitive tests have insufficient predictive value for driving ability.
Within these cognitive and behavioural functions, we can talk about executive functions such as planning, cognitive flexibility or decision making; processing speed, praxis, perception, attention, memory, language comprehension and writing, and awareness of one's own abilities and deficits. Because of the complexity, relevance and number of cognitive processes required for safe driving, it is important to know and be able to measure the cognitive processes involved in the activity of driving. The main general objective of this project is to improve comprehension of cognitive elements that predict safe driving in patients who have suffered a stroke. This would allow the creation of a sensitive cognitive assessment protocol to determine the ability of people with stroke to drive again. The aim of creating this protocol is to determine the tests that best predict safe driving after stroke. This protocol will be composed by different cognitive tools, classified in two categories: Off-Road tests and On-Road tests.
Acquired brain damage and driving: a review. Five issues in evaluating driving ability after brain damage were addressed through a review of the literature. Some preliminary conclusions were reached: (1) about half of all subjects studied still hold a valid driver's license; (2) brain-damaged drivers could not, in general, be seen as risky drivers, although some individuals show decreased driving skill and risky behavior in traffic; and (3) statistics show no increase in traffic violations or accidents in groups of neurologic patients with acquired brain lesions or diseases. Frequently noted problems of brain-damaged drivers include poor judgment of traffic situations, impulsivity, and visuospatial impairments. Traditional psychologic tests have insufficient predictive value regarding fitness to drive. It is suggested that new techniques be developed to enable more valid statements about the skills needed for safe traffic participation. These assessment techniques should emphasize the higher cognitive levels in driving, ie, the tactical and strategic levels.
This paper is a literature review on assessment of fitness to drive in older drivers with cognitive impairment. Early studies on dementia and driving generally failed to distinguish between safe and unsafe drivers on the basis of cognitive test performance. Predictive studies demonstrated that cognitively impaired persons as a group perform significantly worse than controls on both neuropsychological and driving measures. A high prevalence of cognitive impairment was found in groups of older drivers involved in traffic accidents and crashes. However, a large range in neuropsychological test sc
Everything we examined (3)
This check searched the claim as stated. It did not run a separate search for evidence against it.