Keeping Older Canadians on the Road

by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

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Research Profile - June 2007

If life is a highway does this mean that losing your driver's license due to age-related health issues is the end of the road? Many older Canadians certainly feel this way.

"I had one older man tell me that if they took his license away he'd stop taking his medications, because what's the point?" says Dr. Michelle Porter, a professor at the University of Manitoba.

As a Canadian Institutes of Health Research funded researcher, Dr. Porter is at the forefront of looking for ways to keep older Canadians safely at the wheel.

"Mobility is a key issue for quality of life," says Dr. Porter. "We've designed our cities around automobiles, so being able to drive is crucial for everything from getting groceries to health services."

Her research is analyzing new driving aid technologies and combinations of exercise and education to extend seniors' wheeling years.

In a recent two-week long study in Winnipeg, Dr. Porter tested the effectiveness of a new auditory device designed to alert drivers when they're speeding.

"It's a big question whether new technologies are going to be more of a hindrance than a benefit to older drivers," she says.

In this case, most of the 12 drivers - aged 69 to 91-years of age - found that the "Otto" devices spoken warning enabled them to focus on the road, rather than glancing at the speedometer. And the researchers found that it moderately reduced speeding.

Dr. Porter is also examining new Global Positioning System (GPS) methods to more accurately track drivers' speed, location, and route choices in order to study seniors' driving habits.

A kinesiologist, Dr. Porter is convinced that good driving starts with a strong body and positive attitude.

In collaboration with colleagues in psychology, gerontology and public health at three other Canadian universities, she's planning to explore whether targeted exercises and education can help give older men and women the freedom of the road.

Says Dr. Porter: "By influencing their physical issues and confidence in their mobility, we think we'll improve not just seniors' walking, but also their driving."