This study will assess the perceptions of rural Veterans before and after riding in the EasyMile EZ10 automated shuttle. We will also conduct focus groups to obtain Veterans' perceptions after riding in the automated shuttle.

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 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).

In collaboration with Stellenbosh University, Dr. Sherrilene Classen, a Carnegie African Diaspora Fellow, is leading efforts with Prof. Lana van Niekerk to help reduce the number of road fatalities in South Africa.