ROAD SAFETY AND DEMENTIA: CHALLENGES FOR EASTERN PARTNERSHIP COUNTRIES

This article discusses the impact of dementia on road safety and overviews the international regulations related to elderly drivers. Dementia-related road safety is a challenge for the Eastern Partnership countries. The article discusses the impact of dementia on road safety and international regulations related to driving by elderly drivers. Population aging, the increasing prevalence of dementia, and road safety will become even more significant and pressing issues in the Eastern Partnership countries. In response to challenges of dementia-related road safety, recommendations are provided in line with international guidelines. Raising awareness about road safety and dementia, along with promoting education on the impact of dementia on driving abilities, is crucial. Strengthening healthcare systems and providing specific training for medical personnel will support the early detection of cognitive impairments in elderly drivers and help reduce road safety risks. Close collaboration between the healthcare and transport sectors is essential for implementing relevant road safety interventions, such as age-appropriate licensing with mandatory cognitive health assessments and periodic evaluations of physical and cognitive abilities for elderly drivers. Strengthening international cooperation will support alignment with international standards in healthcare and road safety regulations, ensuring global commitment to road safety in Eastern Partnership countries. Acknowledgment. The work reported in this publication was funded by the NIH-Fogarty International Trauma Training Program at the University of Iowa (2D43TW007261-11). The authors gratefully acknowledge all members of the iCREATE for their work on the project overall and for the contributions to project documentation used in this manuscript.