About the Product
DriveSafe DriveAware is the best standardised cognitive driver screening tool available.
DriveSafe DriveAware is evidence based and unique: it can predict if people are likely to pass an on-road assessment with high accuracy.
The touchscreen DriveSafe DriveAware (DSDA) iPad application is based on research conducted by the University of Sydney. It is a screen of cognitive fitness-to-drive. Scores place drivers into “likely to pass”, “further testing” and “likely to fail” categories. DSDA stands out among other cognitive fitness-to-drive screens because it is the only test practical for medical practice with sufficient accuracy to predict on-road driving performance and with evidence based cut-off scores.
The specificity of the iPad version is 86%, sensitivity 91%, positive predictive value 83%, negative predictive value 92%, and overall accuracy of classification 88%.
The secret is in the design.
For more than 25 years, researchers have examined the requirements for a cognitive test that can accurately predict driving performance without testing drivers on the road. The following criteria has been set by researchers for a useful and valid driver screen tool:
Evidence-based cut-off scores (2, 10)
Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value calculated and over 80% (1, 2, 8, 10, 11)
Two cut-off scores allowing categorisation of patients into pass, fail, and further testing categories (2, 8, 9, 10)
A small percentage (10-20%) of drivers classified ‘further testing’ for clinical utility (2, 11)
Simple and brief to administer (1)
High face validity (i.e., patients will accept the test as related to real-world driving) (4 ,5, 11).
Comparison against a standardised OTDA on-road assessment as the criterion measure in research (3, 7, 9, 12, 13)
DriveSafe DriveAware is the ONLY cognitive driver screening test available that meets all of these design criteria.
Others in the market.
There are other tools that clinicians use to predict ability to drive. Many neuropsychological tests commonly used to screen drivers have sensitivity and specificity either not calculated or well below an acceptable level for accurately predicting driving performance. Tests that rely on statistically significant relationships (e.g., correlations) are not sufficiently accurate to predict on-road performance. They also do not meet the optimum driver screening test criteria listed. Therefore, these tests are not suitable to use alone to predict driving performance.
Occupational therapists at the University of Sydney developed DriveSafe DriveAware over 30 years ago. This test is unique because it does not attempt to break driving down into component tasks (e.g., memory, reaction time and visual-perception etc.) but takes a top-down, whole-task approach. This brief and accurate test has been well researched and updated over time.
So, when comparing other tools to DriveSafe DriveAware, please ask yourself:
Are there evidence-based cut-off scores?
Is the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value over 80%?
Is it simple and brief to administer?
Does it have high face validity? (i.e. will patients accept the test as related to real-world driving)?
Has it been compared against a standardised OTDA on-road assessment as the criterion measure in research?
Since 2015, DriveSafe DriveAware has established itself as the optimum driver screening tool as it meets the optimum driver screening design with evidence of sound psychometric properties and sufficient sensitivity, specificity and predictive validity to predict driving performance, and test-retest reliability.
DSDA Reference List
Touchscreen DSDA Research
Examination of touchscreen DSDA psychometric properties and predictive validity
Cheal, B., Bundy, A., Patomella, AH., Kuang, H., Scanlan, J.N. (2023). Predicting fitness to drive for medically at-risk drivers using touchscreen DriveSafe DriveAware. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(1), 7701205030. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2023.050048(O'Donnell J.M., 2018)
Examination of touchscreen DSDA test-retest reliability
Johnston, B. J., O’Donnell, J. M., Manuguerra, M., & Davidson, A. S. (2021). Test–retest reliability of touchscreen DriveSafe DriveAware. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 68(2), 106-114. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12706
Touchscreen DSDA test conversion
Cheal, B., Bundy, A., Patomella, A., & Scanlan, J. N. (2018). Usability testing of touchscreen DriveSafe DriveAware with older adults: A cognitive fitness to drive screen. Cogent Medicine, 5, 1555785. doi:10.1080/2331205X.2018.1555785
Cheal, B., Bundy, A., Patomella, A. H., Scanlan, J. N., & Wilson, C. (2019). Converting the DriveSafe subtest of DriveSafe DriveAware for touchscreen administration. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 66(3), 326-336. doi:10.1111/1440-1630.12558
Desktop DSDA Research
Examination of desktop DSDA test-retest reliability
O’Donnell J.M., Morgan M.K., Manuguerra M., (2019) Patient functional outcomes and quality of life after surgery for unruptured intracranial aneurysm: a prospective cohort study. Journal of Neurosurgery, 130(1):278-285 ISSN: 0022-3085; DOI: 10.3171/2017.8.JNS171576
Examination of DSDA psychometric properties and predictive validity
Hines, A., & Bundy, A. (2014). Predicting driving ability using DriveSafe and DriveAware in people with cognitive impairments: A replication study. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 61(4), 224-229. doi:10.1111/1440-1630.12112
Kay, L., Bundy, A., & Clemson, L. (2009). Predicting fitness to drive in people with cognitive impairments by using DriveSafe and DriveAware. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 90(9), 1514-1522. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2009.03.011
DriveAware development and examination of validity, reliability and predictive accuracy
Kay, L., Bundy, A., & Clemson, L. (2009). Validity, reliability and predictive accuracy of the Driving Awareness Questionnaire. Disability and Rehabilitation, 31(13), 1074- 1082. doi:10.1080/09638280802509553
Kay, L., Bundy, A., & Clemson, L. (2003). Awareness of driving ability in senior drivers with neurological conditions. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63, 146-150.
Precursor Test Research: Visual Recognition Slide Test (VRST)
Examination of VRST psychometric properties and predictive validity
Kay, L., Bundy, A., & Clemson, L. (2008). Predicting fitness to drive using the Visual Recognition Slide Test (USyd). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 187- 197.