Road traffic accidents are one of the main causes of death worldwide and are clearly associated with sleepiness. Individuals with undiagnosed sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) are among the population with a high risk of experiencing sleepiness at the wheel and, consequently, road traffic accidents. Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been shown to reduce the risk of accidents among drivers with SAHS. For this reason, the European Union has included this disease in the psychological and physical criteria for obtaining or renewing a driving license. To comply with this European Directive, Spain has updated its driving laws accordingly. To facilitate the implementation of the new regulations, a group of experts from various medical societies and institutions has prepared these guidelines that include questionnaires to screen for SAHS, diagnostic and therapeutic criteria, and physician's report templates.

Annex III of Directive 2006/126/CE related to driving license procedure describe the minimum health criteria necessary for obtaining or renewal the driving license. If we focus our analysis in the musculoskeletal assessment procedure we can appreciate that there hasn't been the same scientific and technological progression as other technical aids (Directive 2000/56/CE). This paper shows the results of a research program based on the definition of the joint mobility range and muscular strength done during driving process in motor vehicles. For obtaining the data it has been necessary to develop a battery of dynamic test that, with the help of electronic instrumentation, has allowed us the measurement of joint mobility and muscular strength of healthy drivers, with technical criteria that could guarantee their reproducibility. This joint mobility ranges can be applied for the fitness to drive assessment of disabled drivers in order to define the baseline during the medical evaluation in assessment centers.Resumen La Directiva 2006/126/CE sobre el permiso de conducir, en su Anexo III contempla los criterios mínimos de salud necesarios para prorrogar u obtener un permiso de conducir. Si hacemos referencia al procedimiento evaluador del aparato locomotor, apreciamos que no se ha producido la progresión tecnológica y científica en la misma línea que en el caso de las ayudas técnicas (Directiva 2000/56/CE). Los resultados de la investigación que se presenta en este artículo se basan en la obtención de los rangos de movilidad articular y los esfuerzos realizados durante la conducción de vehículos automóviles. Para ello, se han desarrollado una batería de pruebas dinámicas que han permitido medir, mediante la instrumentación electrónica adecuada, la movilidad articular y fuerza muscular de conductores sanos, con criterios que garanticen la reproducibilidad de las mismas. Los rangos de movilidad obtenidos pueden ser utilizados para la evaluación de conductores con déficits funcionales, con objeto de poder definir puntos de corte más concretos en el proceso de evaluación en centros de reconocimiento.

Background: The deterioration of cognitive and psychophysical ability associated with aging has an effect on road safety, especially in the driving of vehicles. The current study’s main objective is to evaluate the psychophysical aptitudes in drivers over 65 years of age in a sample of drivers in Spain. Methods: The sample was formed of a total of 1663 drivers who attended a Driver Recognition Center. The evaluation of their psychophysical aptitudes was carried out following the Medical-Psychological Exploration Protocol for Driver Recognition Centers, edited by the Ministry of Health and the General Directorate of Traffic. Results: The results show increased restrictions in the evaluation of driving ability with age, which are especially significant after 75 years of age. Regarding sex, 70.1% of women have an approved evaluation, compared to men aged between 65–69, although from 69 onwards, the percentage of approved women decreases significantly. The loss of visual capabilities and poor performance in psycho-technical tests are the main causes associated with an evaluation with restrictions, with the number of restrictive conditions increasing with age. Conclusions: There is an increase in the number of cases with age-related restrictions, especially in the case of women and ophthalmologic-related problems, although the majority of drivers over 65 years old continue driving, thus continuing with a practice that has been related to the well-being and quality of life of older adults.

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