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BACKGROUND: With the aging of the population, the number of older drivers is on the rise. This poses significant challenges for public health initiatives, as older drivers have a relatively higher risk for collisions. While many studies focus on developing screening tools to identify medically at-risk drivers, little research has been done to develop training programs or interventions to promote, maintain or enhance driving-related abilities among healthy individuals. The purpose of this systematic review is to synopsize the current literature on interventions that are tailored to improve driving in older healthy individuals by working on components of safe driving such as: self-awareness, knowledge, behaviour, skills and/or reducing crash/collision rates in healthy older drivers. METHODS: Relevant databases such as Scopus and PubMed databases were selected and searched for primary articles published in between January 2007 and December 2017. Articles were identified using MeSH search terms: ("safety" OR "education" OR "training" OR "driving" OR "simulator" OR "program" OR "countermeasures") AND ("older drivers" OR "senior drivers" OR "aged drivers" OR "elderly drivers"). All retrieved abstracts were reviewed, and full texts printed if deemed relevant. RESULTS: Twenty-five (25) articles were classified according to: 1) Classroom settings; 2) Computer-based training for cognitive or visual processing; 3) Physical training; 4) In-simulator training; 5) On-road training; and 6) Mixed interventions. Results show that different types of approaches have been successful in improving specific driving skills and/or behaviours. However, there are clear discrepancies on how driving performance/behaviours are evaluated between studies, both in terms of methods or dependent variables, it is therefore difficult to make direct comparisons between these studies. CONCLUSIONS: This review identified strong study projects, effective at improving older drivers' performance and thus allowed to highlight potential interventions that can be used to maintain or improve older drivers' safety behind the wheel. There is a need to further test these interventions by combining them and determining their effectiveness at improving driving performance.

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RESUMO

Abstract Due to the mandatory assessment of psychological fitness to drive of prospective drivers, Brazil has a relatively large amount of traffic psychologists. Since, in general, assessment only happens upon first licensing, the task of these psychologists is fairly limited (as is the scope of the assessment itself). Intention and method: this study aims to perform a critical analysis of possibilities to expand the role of psychologists working in the traffic system in Brazil. A systematic review study of databases and international documents was conducted and a scope of activity of psychologists in this area was built. First result statistical data is scattered over many agencies. First conclusion in order to better identify specific tendencies and risk groups in Brazil, statistical data related to accident involvement needs to be better, perhaps centrally, coordinated and consolidated. Second result international research related to three subgroups of drivers that constitute a significantly increased safety risk can inform future directions for traffic psychology in Brazil. Psychological processes that may underlie these risk increases are discussed. Second conclusion two subgroups (young drivers and aggressive drivers) could benefit from more than assessment, they could benefit from specific psychological interventions. The third subgroup (elderly drivers) is expected to increase significantly in the future, which asks for clearer policies, with a significant input form psychologists and psychological research....(AU)

Resumo A avaliação psicológica no Brasil é obrigatória no processo de obtenção da Carteira Nacional de Habilitação (CNH), o que faz com que o país tenha uma quantidade relativamente grande de psicólogos atuando neste segmento. Uma vez que, em geral, a avaliação ocorre somente no momento da obtenção da CNH, a atuação desses psicólogos é limitada (assim como o escopo da avaliação em si). Justificativa e método: este estudo tem por objetivo realizar uma análise crítica das possibilidades de expansão do trabalho dos psicólogos que atuam no sistema trânsito no Brasil. Foi realizado um estudo de revisão sistemática em bases de dados e documentos internacionais, e levantado o escopo de atividades dos psicólogos que atuam nessa área. Primeiro resultado dados estatísticos estão dispersos em diferentes agências. Primeira conclusão a fim de entender melhor tendências específicas e grupos de risco, os dados estatísticos relacionados ao envolvimento em acidentes precisam ser melhor coordenados e consolidados. Segundo resultado pesquisas internacionais relacionadas a três subgrupos de motoristas, que constituem um aumento significativo de risco, podem indicar direções futuras para a psicologia do trânsito no Brasil. Processos psicológicos que possivelmente constituem a base desse aumento de risco são discutidos. Segunda conclusão dois subgrupos (motoristas jovens e motoristas agressivos) poderiam se beneficiar com algo além de uma avaliação, com intervenções psicológicas específicas. É esperado que o terceiro subgrupo (motoristas idosos) aumente significativamente no futuro, o que demanda políticas mais claras, com contribuições significativas de psicólogos e de pesquisas em psicologia do trânsito....(AU)

Resumen La evaluación psicológica en Brasil es obligatoria en el proceso de obtención de la licencia de conducir; así, el país tiene una gran cantidad de psicólogos del tráfico. Una vez que generalmente la evaluación ocurre solamente en la obtención de la licencia, la tarea de estos psicólogos (y también el alcance de la evaluación) es muy limitada. Justificación y método: este estudio tiene como objetivo presentar un análisis crítico de las posibilidades de expansión del trabajo de psicólogos que actúan en el sistema de tráfico en Brasil. Se llevó a cabo un estudio en base de datos y documentos internacionales y se levantó el ámbito de actividad de los psicólogos. Primer resultado : datos estadísticos están dispersos en diferentes agencias. Primera conclusión : para comprender mejor las tendencias específicas y subgrupos de riesgo, los datos estadísticos de accidentes de tránsito necesitan ser mejor coordenados y consolidados. Segundo resultado : investigaciones internacionales relacionadas a tres subgrupos de conductores, los cuales constituyen un aumento significativo de riesgo, pueden indicar direcciones futuras para la psicología del tránsito en Brasil. Se discuten procesos psicológicos que posiblemente forman la base de este riesgo. Segunda conclusión : dos subgrupos (conductores jóvenes y conductores agresivos) podrían tener beneficios con algo más que una evaluación, incluyendo intervenciones psicológicas específicas. Es esperado que el tercer subgrupo (conductores ancianos) aumente significativamente en el futuro, lo que demanda políticas más claras, con contribuciones significativas de psicólogos e investigaciones psicológicas....(AU)

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