Document: ADDIGEST_THERAPY_1ST_11-17-08_NOFOLIO18_B_T_18_42224;Page: 1;Trim size: (5.375 x 8.375 ");Plate: Composite;Date: 03 Nov, 2008 11:00:52
occupational
Active safety technology:
Resourcesfor olderdrivers
By DebBrandtBuehler
newcoalition is on amission to “Because of advancesinmedical
advance theuse of active safety technology,weare living longerA
systemstoreducevehicle crashes butoutliving ourabilitytodrive.”
andsavelives.AtIndiana University-Purdue —Dr. Michael D. Justiss,
University Indianapolis,the School of Health IUPUI’sDepartmentofOccupational Therapy
&Rehabilitation Services hasjoinedforces
with thePurdueSchoolofEngineering
Technology andDelphi
Corporation to form the
Transportation Active
Safety Institute.
Most people arefamiliar
with passivesafetytechnology
such as seatbelts andair bags
that help protect driversand
opassengers in collisions. Active ot
safety technology systems Ph
edaredifferentinthatthey tt
miattempttoreducethe severity
Subof crashes—orevenprevent
TheUsefulField of View Analizerassessescognitive processingthem from happening.
speed,dividedattention andselective attention.Dr. MichaelD.Justiss
said it hasexcellent predictive validity forcrashes as well as behind-Active safety systemswarn
the-wheelperformance.thedriverofimpending
danger, such as roadway OccupationalTherapy.“Menoutlive their
obstacles, excessiveclosing speedorthe ability to drivebyabout sixyears andwomen
presence of avehicle in thedriver’sblind by about11years.”
spot.Other systemsare capable of detecting Occupationaltherapistsare challenged to
conditionssuchasinattentiveness or help olderadultsmaintaintheir capacity to
drowsiness. driveastheyexperiencechangesinvision,
andmentaland physicalfunctions.Drivingchallengesofolder adults
“Wewanttodetermine if olderadults
have thebasic skills forsafedriving,” JustissOlderdrivers areofparticularinterest
said.“Safe drivingincludesroadordrivingat TASI.
knowledgeaswellascapacitymeasuresof“Because of advancesinmedical
vision,cognition andphysicalfunction.”technology,weare living longerbut outliving
Speciallytrained occupational therapistsourability to drive,”saidDr. MichaelD.
alreadyare workingtowardkeepingJustiss, OTR,assistantprofessor anddirector
olderdrivers saferonthe road longer.of researchfor IUPUI’sDepartmentof
18 INDIANA THERAPISTS QUARTERLY•FALL 2008
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24