Archive

---

Med. Pr. 2004;55(6)

Ageing and psychological assessment of motor vehicle driving capability

Proces starzenia się a psychologiczne orzekanie o zdolności do kierowania pojazdami

Małgorzata Waszkowska, Bohdan Dudek Z Zakładu Psychologii Pracy Instytutu Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera w Łodzi

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present project was to determine: (a) at what age the psychomotor functions begin to decline, which would justify routine testing to assess them, and (b) at what level the declining psychomotor functions can be recognized as a contraindication against driving motor vehicles. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 186 motor vehicle drivers, aged 26ś64 years. The parameters examined included eye-hand coordination and reaction time. Results: The analysis of the results revealed that a significantly decreased level of psychomotor function could be noted at the age of 45 years. Conclusions: It was assumed that the results of psychological tests performed by persons with 0.05% BAC can be the empiricalcriterion for a decline that would significantly impair the driverśs work capability. The findings of our study made it possible to develop a proposal for modifying the testing procedure and the principles of certifying work capability of motor vehicle drivers.

Key words

work capability, psychomotor functions, reaction time, eye śhand, coordination, motor vehicle drivers