To be operable, the proposed Austroads licensing model requires a set of valid assessment protocols able to distinguish between safe and unsafe drivers, with the required measure of validity varying according the level of assessment. A case-control study design was employed, comprising 62 cases and 62 controls. The 16 assessment protocols evaluated in this study represent all three levels of assessment proposed in the model. No evidence was found that the screening tests were able to distinguish between safe (controls) and unsafe (cases) drivers, and on this basis, the tests are unlikely to be useful to licensing authorities. It follows therefore that in the absence of more valid and reliable assessment protocols, the Austroads model is currently inoperable. Given the potential held by the Austroads model to improve older driver safety and given the demonstrable shortcomings of current licensing assessment procedures, it is recommended that the development of more effective assessment protocols and associated processes be continued. Specifically, it is recommended that consideration be given to supporting MUARC to join an international older driver cohort study which amongst other tasks, will aim to identify/develop and evaluate a battery of both on-road and off-road assessment protocols. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting