1. Senior Drivers in Ontario Ontario Ministry of Transportation TRB 2004 Human Factors Workshop January 11, 2004

2. January 20042 Overview Ontario Aging and Driving Trends Current MTO Programs Addressing Older Driver Issues

3. January 20043 Aging and Driving Trends Seniors – rapidly growing segment of Ontario driver population 80+ drivers licensed in 1996: 77,489 80+ drivers licensed in 2001: 165,758 About 65,000 senior drivers (80+) undergo semi- annual licence renewal each year

4. Demographic projections underscore size of approaching age wave...

5. January 20045 Aging and Driving Trends

6. January 20046 Aging and Driving Trends 3% of 80+ drivers involved in collisions in 2001 5% of drivers of all ages involved in collisions Noticeable increase in collision involvement starting age 75 Fatal collision involvement rate of drivers 80+ 2.32 per 10,000 licensed drivers in 2001 1.51 per 10,000 licensed drivers (all ages)

7. January 20047 Aging and Driving Trends

8. January 20048 Aging and Driving Trends

9. January 20049 Current MTO Programs  Comprehensive approach to screening for high-risk senior drivers – no licensing decision made based on age alone

10. January 200410 Current MTO Programs 70 and Over Collision Program 80 and Over Licence Renewal Program Physician Mandatory Reporting Program 65 and Over Commercial Driver Licence Renewal Program Driver Assessment Referrals

11. January 200411 Age 80 & Over Licence Renewal  Drivers age 80+ renew licences every two years  Renewal requirements:  Vision test  Knowledge test  Driver record review  Group Education Session  Road test, if necessary  Program revised in 1996 from mandatory annual road test

12. January 200412 Age 80 & Over Licence Renewal Group Education Session  In addition to vision and knowledge tests and driver record review, licence renewal of drivers age 80 and over requires attendance at Group Education Sessions (GES)  GES are interactive seminars on senior driver topics:  Driving situations that are high-risk for seniors  Physical changes related to aging  How changes affect driving  Ways to reduce collision risk  Sessions delivered across province and provided free of charge  Maximum 15 participants  90 minutes long  Driver’s participation in session observed for signs of cognitive impairment

13. January 200413 Age 70 & Over Collision Program  Age 70 and over + collision + related traffic conviction  Full re-examination to keep licence  Vision test  Knowledge test  Road test  Failure results in licence cancellation – failure to pass only road test results in G1 licence

14. January 200414 Physician Mandatory Reporting  Duty to report to MTO persons with medical conditions that may impair driving  Reports assessed for degree of risk, actions taken:  Immediate licence suspension  Referral to Medical Advisory Committee  Further evaluation

15. January 200415 Age 65 & Over Commercial Drivers  Truck and bus drivers age 65+ renew licence annually  Renewal requirements:  Vision test  Knowledge test  Road test  Satisfactory medical report  Licence downgraded to Class G or D if requirements failed

16. January 200416 Driver Assessment Referrals  Drivers with medical conditions may be referred to or, may wish to voluntarily attend, 28 approved driver assessment centres in Ontario  Evaluations performed by occupational therapist  Medical assessment (brief medical history)  Clinical evaluation (physical, vision & cognitive assessments)  On road evaluation  Licensing decision based on full evaluation:  Suspension  Maintain licence  Conditional licence – adaptive device conditions only  Retraining

17. January 200417 Kidnie Inquest Tragic death in April 2000 of pedestrian who was struck by a senior driver Coroner’s Inquest released 16 recommendations in May 2002, 14 of which were directed to Ministry of Transportation The recommendations included: development of screening tools for physicians and licensing staff to identify drivers with cognitive and physical impairments improved physician reporting of drivers with medical conditions promotion and public awareness campaigns on older driver safety improvements to the Ministry’s mandatory Group Education Session for drivers aged 80 and over Formal Ministry response included: commitments to improve physician reporting through legislative amendments, to review the Group Education Session to deliver senior driver safety seminars across Ontario assessment of the available research on driver assessments and cognitive screens

18. January 200418 Addressing Older Driver Issues  Revamping Group Education Session  Education Sessions on senior driver issues and physician reporting requirements presented to McMaster University medical students  Hired gerontologist/geriatrician on Medical Advisory Committee  Developing standard form for police to report unfit drivers  Planning further public education  Monitoring and assessing older driver research

19. January 200419 Revamp Group Education Session Consultant review underway and completion expected Spring, 2004 Key tasks include:  Update content on high-risk driving situations for seniors, defensive driving techniques, impact of medications on driving and warning signs  Produce new in-session, take-home materials for participants to reinforce learning  Develop safety information on public website that reaches younger senior drivers  Review and improve counsellor screening procedures to identify at-risk seniors who need further evaluation 

20. January 200420 Current MTO Programs - Summary 70 and over Collision Program 70+ drivers involved in at-fault reportable collision must pass vision, knowledge & road test to maintain licence 80 and over Licence Renewal Program Every 2 years: Vision Test Written Test Driver’s Record Review Group Education Session Road test, if necessary Physician Mandatory Reporting Program Physician has duty to report persons with medical conditions that impair driving 65 and over Commercial Driver Licence Renewal Program 65+ commercial vehicle drivers must pass vision, knowledge & road tests and submit medical report to renew licence each year Driver Assessment Referrals Drivers of all ages may be referred to approved third-party assessors