What is a Cognitive Driver Assessment?
Driving skills can change. If you’re worried about someone’s driving it might be time to have them take a cognitive driver assessment. In partnership with SafeWay Driver Fitness Centers, Top Driver provides an on-road driving evaluation which is an objective and unbiased assessment.
Definition of Cognitive Driver Assessment
A cognitive driver assessment predicts the quality of vehicle handling and identifies the risk level in healthy and more challenged individuals with different pathologies. The On-Road Evaluation is the world’s leading technology for providing fair and accurate information about the medically at-risk driver. The SafeWay/Top Driver cognitive driver assessment is scientifically developed and validated through award winning university research and extensive development.Driving assessment should be evaluated regularly, and more frequently for those experiencing driving issues.
Signs of Someone Who Needs a Driver Assessment
- Unaware of driving errors
- Close calls
- Driving too slowly
- Unaware of other vehicles
- Missing traffic signs
- Getting lost or confused
- Decline in the ability to perform everyday tasks
- Memory loss
- Disorientation
- Trouble maintaining balance
4 Reasons to Consider a Driver Assessment
- Validation in your driving capabilities.
- If your eyesight has worsened you may benefit from learning how these changes could be impacting your driving.
- A new medical condition may inhibit your range of motion, thus impacting your response time while driving.
- If you have been told that you should stop or limit driving — seek another opinion.
What is Measured in the Cognitive Driver Assessment?
This valuable testing tool measures multiple skills and abilities in regard to safe driving including:
- Ability to estimate distances and speeds
- Manual dexterity
- Time perception
- Attention
- Auditory and visual perception
- Reaction time
If you are worried about a loved one’s driving ability, contact SafeWay for additional information or to schedule an assessment at (888) 306-1119.
Make sure to check out our recent blog post, “Teen Driver Tips: Merging, Passing & Turning” for more information on how to keep your teen driver safe.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cognitive driver assessment?
A cognitive driver assessment is an objective, on-road evaluation that predicts how well someone can handle a vehicle and identifies their actual risk level behind the wheel. Top Driver offers this service in partnership with SafeWay Driver Fitness Centers, using a scientifically developed, university-validated assessment tool that has become a leading technology for evaluating medically at-risk drivers. The point is to provide a fair, unbiased measurement rather than a subjective family opinion, which makes it especially useful when there is disagreement about whether an older or medically affected driver should still be on the road.
Who should consider getting a driver assessment?
Anyone showing signs that their driving may no longer be safe. Common warning signs include being unaware of driving errors, frequent close calls, driving noticeably too slowly, missing other vehicles or traffic signs, getting lost or confused on familiar routes, a general decline in everyday task performance, memory loss, disorientation, or trouble with balance. The assessment is also useful for healthy drivers who want validation of their abilities, anyone whose eyesight has worsened, drivers managing a new medical condition that affects range of motion or reaction time, and anyone who has been told to stop or limit driving and wants a second, objective opinion.
What skills does the cognitive driver assessment measure?
The assessment evaluates the specific abilities that determine safe driving. Those include the ability to estimate distances and speeds, manual dexterity for handling the wheel and controls, time perception, attention and the ability to sustain focus, both auditory and visual perception, and reaction time. Together these measurements give a clear picture of whether someone has the cognitive and physical capacity to drive safely in real-world conditions, not just whether they can pass a basic vision test or remember the rules of the road on paper.
How often should an older or medically at-risk driver be reassessed?
Driving skills change over time, sometimes gradually and sometimes quickly after a medical event. Top Driver recommends regular evaluation for any driver where capacity is a concern, and more frequent assessments for anyone already experiencing driving issues, a new diagnosis, vision changes, or reduced mobility. Treat it like any other health check, a baseline today and follow-ups when something changes or at regular intervals as conditions evolve.
How do I schedule a cognitive driver assessment?
Contact SafeWay Driver Fitness Centers directly at (888) 306-1119 to ask questions or schedule an evaluation. SafeWay partners with Top Driver to deliver the on-road assessment, and their staff can walk you through what to expect, what documentation may be helpful, and the next steps after the evaluation is complete. If you are worried about a parent, spouse, or other loved one, calling for information first is a good way to understand the process before bringing it up with the driver themselves.
