. 2017 Dec;4(1):22.

doi: 10.1186/s40621-017-0121-z. Epub 2017 Aug 1.

Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD): study design and methods

Guohua Li^{1

2

3}, David W Eby⁴, Robert Santos⁵, Thelma J Mielenz⁶, Lisa J Molnar⁴, David Strogatz⁷, Marian E Betz^{8

9}, Carolyn DiGuiseppi⁹, Lindsay H Ryan¹⁰, Vanya Jones¹¹, Samantha I Pitts¹², Linda L Hill¹³, Charles J DiMaggio¹⁴, David LeBlanc⁴, Howard F Andrews^{15

16}; LongROAD Research Team

Collaborators, Affiliations

Collaborators

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. gl2240@cumc.columbia.edu.
² Department of Anesthesiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. gl2240@cumc.columbia.edu.
³ Center for Injury Epidemiology and Prevention, Columbia University Medical Center, 722 West 168th Street, Room 524, New York, NY, 10032, USA. gl2240@cumc.columbia.edu.
⁴ University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute and the Center for Advancing Transportation Leadership and Safety (ATLAS Center), Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
⁵ The Urban Institute, Washington, DC, USA.
⁶ Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
⁷ Bassett Research Institute, Cooperstown, NY, USA.
⁸ Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
⁹ Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
¹⁰ Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
¹¹ Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
¹² Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
¹³ Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
¹⁴ Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
¹⁵ Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
¹⁶ Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.

PMID: 28736796
PMCID: PMC5537138
DOI: 10.1186/s40621-017-0121-z

Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD): study design and methods

Guohua Li et al. Inj Epidemiol. 2017 Dec.

. 2017 Dec;4(1):22.

doi: 10.1186/s40621-017-0121-z. Epub 2017 Aug 1.

Authors

Collaborators

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. gl2240@cumc.columbia.edu.
² Department of Anesthesiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. gl2240@cumc.columbia.edu.
³ Center for Injury Epidemiology and Prevention, Columbia University Medical Center, 722 West 168th Street, Room 524, New York, NY, 10032, USA. gl2240@cumc.columbia.edu.
⁴ University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute and the Center for Advancing Transportation Leadership and Safety (ATLAS Center), Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
⁵ The Urban Institute, Washington, DC, USA.
⁶ Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
⁷ Bassett Research Institute, Cooperstown, NY, USA.
⁸ Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
⁹ Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
¹⁰ Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
¹¹ Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
¹² Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
¹³ Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
¹⁴ Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
¹⁵ Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
¹⁶ Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.

PMID: 28736796
PMCID: PMC5537138
DOI: 10.1186/s40621-017-0121-z

Abstract

Background: As an important indicator of mobility, driving confers a host of social and health benefits to older adults. Despite the importance of safe mobility as the population ages, longitudinal data are lacking about the natural history and determinants of driving safety in older adults.

Methods: The Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD) project is a multisite prospective cohort study designed to generate empirical data for understanding the role of medical, behavioral, environmental and technological factors in driving safety during the process of aging.

Results: A total of 2990 active drivers aged 65-79 years at baseline have been recruited through primary care clinics or health care systems in five study sites located in California, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, and New York. Consented participants were assessed at baseline with standardized research protocols and instruments, including vehicle inspection, functional performance tests, and "brown-bag review" of medications. The primary vehicle of each participant was instrumented with a small data collection device that records detailed driving data whenever the vehicle is operating and detects when a participant is driving. Annual follow-up is being conducted for up to three years with a telephone questionnaire at 12 and 36 months and in-person assessment at 24 months. Medical records are reviewed annually to collect information on clinical diagnoses and healthcare utilization. Driving records, including crashes and violations, are collected annually from state motor vehicle departments. Pilot testing was conducted on 56 volunteers during March-May 2015. Recruitment and enrollment were completed between July 2015 and March 2017.

Conclusions: Results of the LongROAD project will generate much-needed evidence for formulating public policy and developing intervention programs to maintain safe mobility while ensuring well-being for older adults.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests

Dr. Li and Dr. DiMaggio are editor-in-chief and associate editor, respectively, of Injury Epidemiology. Drs. DiGuiseppi, Hill, and Mielenz are editorial board members of Injury Epidemiology. None of these individuals were involved in the handling or review of this manuscript.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Data collection timeline for the Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD) study

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

1. Antin J, Lee S, Hankey J, Dingus T. Design of the In-Vehicle Driving Behavior and Crash Risk Study. Washington: Transportation Research Board; 2011.
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1. Berk B. Self-driving cars could keep seniors in the driver’s seat. The Dallas Morning News. 2014. http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/latest-columns/20140415-self-driving-c.... Accessed 28 Jun 2017.
1. Blanchard RA, Myers A. Examination of driving comfort and self-regulatory practices in older adults using in-vehicle devices to assess natural driving patterns. Accid Anal Prev. 2010;42:1213–1219. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2010.01.013. - DOI - PubMed
1. Campbell A, Converse PE, Rodgers W. The quality of American life: Perceptions, evaluations, and satisfactions. New York: Russell Sage Foundation; 1976.

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Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD): study design and methods

Collaborators

Affiliations

Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD): study design and methods

Authors

Collaborators

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests

Publisher’s Note

Figures

References

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Other Literature Sources

Research Materials