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Sat Nav programs assist maintain older drivers on the roads for longer, in accordance with new analysis from the College of East Anglia.
A brand new examine printed at present reveals that over 65s with a poorer sense of path rely extra on assist from GPS navigation programs comparable to Sat Nav or smartphone maps.
These utilizing GPS tended to drive extra ceaselessly — suggesting that the expertise helps older folks preserve driving independence.
Senior writer Prof Michael Hornberger, from UEA’s Norwich Medical College, mentioned: “Driving is normally the popular mode of transport amongst older adults, and it may be important for sustaining independence, high quality of life, wellbeing, and cognitive well being as we age.
“However age-related cognitive decline implies that folks would possibly expertise worsening spatial skills, main them to drive much less and fewer.
“As a result of now we have an ageing inhabitants, it is actually vital to know the elements that maintain older folks on the highway, driving safely for longer.”
Lead writer Dr Sol Morrissey, from UEA’s College of Well being Sciences, added: “We all know that utilizing a Sat Nav system can alleviate the cognitive calls for of navigation when driving, significantly when visiting much less acquainted locations. And this expertise has turn out to be more and more well-liked amongst older drivers.
“We needed to raised perceive how utilizing GPS navigation programs helps older folks on the roads.”
The workforce labored with 895 UK drivers (514 feminine) aged over 65 with a mean age of 71. The contributors self-reported how typically and much they drive, their subjective sense of path, and the way they use GPS navigation gadgets.
In addition they accomplished on-line cognitive assessments assessing their reminiscence and spatial skills. The workforce then analysed the connection between how folks use GPS with their driving mobility and cognitive efficiency.
Prof Hornberger mentioned: “We discovered {that a} appreciable majority of older drivers use navigation help a minimum of for some journeys, and generally for your complete journey to a brand new vacation spot.
“Older folks with a poorer sense of path rely extra on Sat Navs. However the actually vital factor we discovered is that those that use GPS are likely to drive extra ceaselessly than those that don’t, suggesting that these instruments assist mitigate towards spatial orientation difficulties and assist preserve driving mobility.
“Because of this if we assist older drivers with utilizing GPS navigation, it may actually assist preserve their driving independence — retaining them on the roads safely for longer,” he added.
This analysis was led by UEA in collaboration with the College of Exeter, Oxford Brookes College, Chester Wellness Centre and the College of Leeds. The examine is supported by the Nationwide Institute of Well being and Care Analysis (NIHR) Utilized Analysis Collaboration (ARC) East of England.
It was funded by the Division for Transport.
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