Having adaptations and physical rehabilitation to return to driving is undoubtedly important. However, driving also involves a number of necessary cognitive skills. Therefore, it is important that we use cognitive training techniques and exercises for driver rehabilitation with our patients.
Cognitive skills related to driving
Safe driving depends to a large extent on the driver’s ability to maintain constant attention first, and make quick and accurate decisions in diverse and often unpredictable situations on the road. This requires executive functions such as sustained and divided attention, decision making, planning and inhibition, as well as visuospatial and spatial memory skills.
Executive functions
- Attention is the first requirement for safe driving. Drivers must be able to keep their attention on the road and on events occurring around them in order to detect potential hazards and respond to them in an appropriate and timely manner. Because of this, a divided attention span to attend to different stimuli is essential; Inattention can result, for example, in distractions, slower reaction time and errors in judgment, which increases the risk of traffic accidents.
- Effective decision making is critical for assessing complex situations and responding appropriately and safely while driving. Likewise, drivers must be able to quickly assess the different options available and choose the most appropriate action in order to avoid hazards and maintain road safety.
- Planning allows drivers to anticipate and prepare for future actions while driving. In driving, this largely involves anticipating maneuvers, lane changes, intersections and other situations on the road. Likewise, drivers who possess planning skills can effectively evaluate the available options and select the best route or course of action to reach their destination safely and efficiently.
- Inhibition is crucial for resisting distractions, as well as avoiding risky behavior or, for example, maintaining focus on the main task. Drivers who possess inhibition skills, in addition to being able to maintain attention on the road, must also be able to avoid being distracted by electronic devices, conversations or other stimuli that may interfere with their driving ability.
Visuospatial skills
Finally, visuospatial ability and spatial orientation are essential for navigating different routes, using place-finding tools, tracing routes on a map, as well as, respecting safety distances and estimating spaces and distances to circulate safely. Likewise, spatial memory is necessary to remember familiar routes and places.
Examples of cognitive training exercises for driver rehabilitation
Attention
Planning, inhibition and decision making
Visuospatial and spatial memory exercises
It is essential that drivers are able to develop and maintain these cognitive skills. Cognitive training exercises should be specifically designed to strengthen these skills. Rehametrics has pre-designed protocols, specifically to rehabilitate cognitive skills necessary for driving.
