Driving is a complex activity, which requires a combination of motor and mental skills. The deterioration of many mental functions critical to driving (i.e. memory, attention, visual-spatial perception, executive functions), either due to physiological aging, due to a neurological disease (i.e. mild cognitive impairment, mild dementia, etc.), or due to relevant medication may significantly affect driving performance. The goal of this study is to present the design of a large on road driving experiment which aims to assess the driving ability of older drivers through an innovative methodology. In order to achieve the above goal, a system for recording and evaluating the driving behavior of the elderly, by using driving data, which are collected through OSeven smartphone application is developed. For the purpose of this study, 100 elderly active drivers (over 60 years old) will take part in an on road driving experiment, on a specific route, which will include road sections inside and outside urban area, in the region of Attica. The data that will be collected are: a) objective driving data continuously recorded through the OSeven smartphone application, which collects a variety of driving behavior parameters continuously and b) driving behavior assessment through a specific driving behavior checklist. The collected data will be processed with appropriate algorithm development methods and a series of different statistical analyses will take place aiming to analyze the impact of advanced age and other factors on driving behavior parameters. The benefits of this study are both scientific and socio-economic. The final outcome concern a toolbox for the evaluation and possible improvement of the driving ability and safety of older drivers namely a complete protocol for assessing the driving ability and safety of the elderly, and specific indicators of their driving behavior and safety.
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