Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

Driving is the primary mode of transportation for many older people and allows them to maintain their independence and mobility. Aging has been associated with declines in cognitive capacity, vision and physical abilities that may impair one's ability to drive safely. However, we know that older adults should not have their driving licenses revoked simply on the basis of age or an age-related medical diagnosis; many are still safe to drive. To ensure the well-being of older adults while at the same time maintaining public safety, we need to find fair and equitable means to ensure that no one is deprived of the driving privilege unjustly. Canadian Driving Research Initiative for Vehicular Safety in the Elderly (Candrive), funded by CIHR, was developed to do just that. It is a national longitudinal study involving seven sites and over 900 older drivers to generate knowledge for use by transportation policy makers, clinicians and the general public to improve the safety and quality-of-life of older drivers in Canada. Our proposed Café would provide us with the opportunity to share some of our findings, lessons learned, and future directions with those with an interest in this area.