Simulated Driving Errors: Indicators of Real-World Driving Events in Returning Combat Veterans

Abstract

Motor vehicle crashes is a leading cause of death for Veterans. We quantified the efficacy of an Occupational Therapy Driving Intervention (OT-DI) and a Traffic Safety Education (TSE) intervention on real-world driving in combat Veterans. Via a randomized trial, we assessed 42 Veterans' fitness-to-drive abilities using a CDS-250 driving simulator and driving records, to determine differences in simulated driving and real-world events pre- and post-interventions. The OT-DI group (vs. TSE) had fewer over-speeding errors (p < .001) and total number of driving errors (p = .002) post-intervention. At Post-Test 2, the OT-DI (vs. TSE) had a reduction in real-world speeding (p = .05). While statistically not significant, both interventions showed reductions in real-world speeding, number of violations (OT-DI: 23% and TSE: 46% decrease) and crashes (OT-DI: 25% and TSE: 50% decrease). Veterans showed early evidence of efficacy in improving their real-world fitness-to-drive abilities via an OT-DI and TSE intervention.

Keywords: Veterans; automobile driving; occupational therapy; randomized controlled trial.