Driving errors made by returning Veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation New Dawn (OND) is a critical Veteran safety and public health issue. Motor vehicle crashes (MVC) are the second leading cause of death among post-deployed combat Veterans. Interventions to mitigate driving errors and at-risk behaviors of post-deployed Veterans is paramount to improving their driving safety.

This project supports Florida Department of Transportation’s Safe Mobility for Life Coalition and the Aging Road User Strategic plan through provision of a database linked to the Coalition's Safe and Mobile Seniors website, Find A Ride page.

The Department of Occupational Therapy’s Institute for Mobility, Activity, and Participation team is collaborating with the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering to assess younger and older drivers’ trust, attention, mental workload, and driving performance when using adaptive cruise control (ACC). Furthermore, younger and older drivers’ knowledge of ACC will be assessed before and after being exposed to this automated vehicle technology. Findings will inform researchers and vehicle manufacturers to develop educational material to train drivers to safely use ACC.

The Department of Occupational Therapy’s Institute for Mobility, Activity, and Participation team is collaborating with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the City of Gainesville to better understand how younger and middle-aged drivers’ perceptions change after exposure to automated vehicle technology. Similar to the Phase I study, which assessed older adults’ perceptions of automated vehicles, participants will be exposed to the autonomous mode of driving simulator and an automated -shuttle operating in downtown Gainesville. Findings will inform policymakers, industry and rehabilitation scientists on perceptions of pre and exposure of this population.

The University of Florida’s Institute for Mobility, Activity and Participation is working in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the City of Gainesville to study the implications of integrating autonomous vehicle technology. Phase 1 of the autonomous vehicle research will focus on the perception, values, beliefs and attitudes of drivers 65 years or older while utilizing a driving simulator and an autonomous vehicle.

Building on previous collaborations with the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (2007; 2011), the University of Florida’s Institute for Mobility, Activity and Participation will provide expert services to revise and compile version 3 of the Smart Features for Older Drivers initiative.

This randomized controlled trial extends our prior DOD funded study “Efficacy of a Driving Program on Safe Community Mobility for Combat Veterans” conducted 2011-2016.

The overarching objective of this proposal was to discern, after clinical and simulated driving performance testing, if an Occupational Therapy Driving Intervention (OT-DI) improved veterans’ driving performance (less errors when assessed on simulator) over the short term (immediately following intervention) and intermediate term (3 months).

This project supports Florida Department of Transportation’s Safe Mobility for Life Coalition and the Aging Road User Strategic plan through provision of a database linked to the Coalition's Safe and Mobile Seniors website, Find A Ride page.