White House Conference on Aging: Policy Committee

1
White House Conference on Aging Policy
Committee Listening Session Transportation
January 8, 2004 The Role of the State Motor
Vehicle Department Robert Raleigh, MD
Director, Medical
Advisory Board
Driver Safety Research
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration


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White House Conference on Aging Listening
Session Transportation
Background for role of State
Motor Vehicle Department About 13 of Drivers
today are age 65 to 90 In just 6 yrs (2011)
the First Baby Boomer turns age 65 In 2
Decades about 25 of all Drivers will be age 65
to 90 Age does not determine a safe driver, but
functional capability does. Research in the last
7 yrs has validated a few capability tests that
are useful. Independent Activities of Daily
Living (IADL) will motivate many older drivers to
request the DMV for a license. (restricted or
unrestricted) A multidiscipline team will be
required to handle this crisis effectively. Team
members vary depending on type of case. Example
MAB nurse case mgr., MAB doctor, an AOTA member
with CDRS, ADED member with CDRS, drivers doctor
(Dx RX), Certified Vendors for equipment to aid
in driving, Certified Professional Driving
Schools, Social Service Agencies, etc.
3
White House Conference on Aging Listening
Session Transportation
More Facts re WHY the DMV will have a Key
Role 1- Medical Issues of aging and driving are
important, and 37 (75) of our 50 states
currently have Medical Advisory Boards (MAB), not
all, are equally prepared. But there is 6 yrs to
prepare before the older driver increase begins.
The state DMV are primarily the only agency that
has a regular close contact with all drivers. An
important mission of the MAB DMV is Keeping
Older Drivers on the Road as long as they may be
safe personally and also from a Public Health
Perspective. An 82 yr old male driver, post
stroke, with persistent weakness of right arm
leg. No other adverse symptoms or signs were
present. More treatment was indicated with a
spinner knob on the steering wheel and a left
footed gas pedal. Following his training with
adaptive equipment, a 10 mile radius of his home
was determined as the geographic area that would
allow for safe independent living. He passed the
test and for the next three years they were able
to care for themselves. At that point they
decided to sell their home and live in an
Assisted Living facility.
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White House Conference on Aging Listening
Session Transportation

• More on DMV / MAB value in Keeping Older Drivers
  mobile independent
• Previous case illustrates keeping social service
  costs minimal and postpones in this case for 3
  years the need for alternate transportation.
• Safe mobility and independence keep seniors from
  boredom depression.
• With 75 of states having an MAB there is a
  foundation for an easier transition to the
  concept of how to keep seniors driving safely.
• MAB referrals generally show more functional
  decline than the average license renewal driver.
  Therefore a license renewal program is early
  intervention and should have a less complex job
  in keeping drivers on the road safely.
• 5. When the crisis begins, there will be a need
  for more Occupational Therapist and Driver
  Educators with CDRS to meet the Challenge.

5
Glossary

• AOTA American Occupational Therapy
  Association
• CDRS Certified Driver Rehab Specialist
• ADED Association for Driver Rehab
  Specialist
• PT Physical Therapist
• DMV Department of Motor Vehicles
• MAB Medical Advisory Board