By means of a regional BASt study in 2002, first conclusions could be drawn concerning a significant correlation between physical health aspects and the mobility and risk behavior of the elderly. The following representative study bridges a gap by analyzing the possible coherence between health aspects on the one hand and the mobility and risk behavior of the elderly on the other hand. To obtain up-to-date, representative key data concerning mobility and health of the target group, telephone surveys of n = 2.000 persons aged 50 years and up, as well as n = 1.000 persons aged between 16-49 years were conducted. The planning of the survey was based on a broad literary research as well as on already existing ascertainments and results of concluded research projects by BASt, especially the study worked on in behalf of BASt named "Elderly people in the future safety-system 'road – vehicle – person' (AEMEÏS)". On the basis of this planning the obtained data could be linked and compared to the results of the BASt-projects 'Life situation, attitudes and behaviour of elderly drivers of both sexes' from 1986 as well as 'Elderly people in the future safety-system 'road - vehicle - person' (AEMEÏS)' from 1998. These comparisons show that the holding of a driving license as well as the possession of a car has become more and more natural for the elderly (of both sexes); furthermore, the number of elderly drivers who drive 7.500 km or less has increased. Concerning the existing study 'Key data concerning traffic and health data relevant for transportation safety of older traffic participants (AGE-V3)', the analysis of the knowledge acquisition resulted from a description of the mobility behaviour of the target group (ZEM), the health data relevant for traffic security (IfADo) as well as the differences concerning mobility behavior caused by health factors (ZEM). Furthermore, the comparison of older (50 years and up) and younger (between 16 and 49 years) traffic participants produced suggestions for the development of measures of traffic security, always reflecting the needs of older traffic participants. The analysis concerning state of health as well as medication of the subjects were carried out in consideration and on the basis of the substance-risk classification for pharmaceuticals, taken from the EU research project 'Driving under the Influence of Drugs, Alcohol and Medicines' (DRUID). Based on the survey results, one can adhere to the outcome that the elderly are more frequently on medication that is relevant to traffic safety as well as affected by respective illnesses than younger traffic participants. A compensation of these effects is carried out by the elderly in terms of an increased usage of alternative transportation means to the car; especially (older) men however do drive their car after taking and thus under the influence of these drugs and illnesses. Within the scope of the model tests of this evaluation and in comparison to multimorbidity and polypharmacy, self-efficacy - if driving practice was considered - turned out to be a better predictor of the accident risk. Concerning traffic safety, as much driving practice as possible might provide an important compensational function. The results of this research were used to suggest the development of measures adequate for the target group, which allow for the requirements and difficulties of older traffic participants to be acknowledged and can be helpful for future decision making processes in questions of traffic security, traffic planning and traffic policy. A major recommendation in this case relates to the awareness of (older) men to the effects of ingested medications on their driving ability to provide improved possibilities of self-control. Moreover, it seems of high importance to use the fact of higher medical-care -as it is pointed out in the survey results - within the elderly by their respective general practitioner (GP) productively: The family doctor should act as a "consultant" concerning individual mobility and road safety. This results in the need for adequate training and qualification programs for family doctors. A further recommendation in this context relates to the compensation of age-related performance degradation by specified, regular exercise of, for example, working memory and other skills that are relevant to the driving task. (Author/publisher)
Abstract