BOSTON -- Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology are studying the affects of age on driving.

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Rhonda Mann Reports On Study

NewsCenter 5's Rhonda Mann reported Friday that it was one year ago that tragedy struck on the streets of Santa Monica, Calif. Ten people were killed and 40 injured when an elderly driver mistook the gas pedal for the brake.

MIT's research aims to provide clutch information about how people can avoid problems on the roads.

Jean Piantedosi drove Miss Daisy, the Volkswagen Beetle simulator at MIT's Age Lab. At age 62, Piantedosi has already shifted some of her road routine.

"I find there's just too much traffic and headlights and confusion at night, so I usually try to get everything I have to do during the day," she said.

The VW bug is used to research the habits of older drivers and to test for things like reaction time and attentiveness to road hazards.

It also studies the impact of travel technology on safe driving at any age.

"One of the things we've been looking at is collision avoidance systems. Can we think of new technologies in the car that will alert you when you are too close to another car? Or about to make a turn that perhaps you should or should not?" Dr. Joe Coughlin said.

Some of the research, along with a nationwide survey of seniors, is behind a new free booklet, which gives the early signs that an elder may need to steer clear of driving.

"We have a list of about 28 warning signs that range from as small as a loss of confidence while driving to maybe some scrapes and dents on the car to something as serious as confusing the gas with the brake," said Maureen Mohyde, a gerontologist with the Hartford Financial Services Group.

It also gives guidance as to who should talk to a driver about putting on the breaks -- something elders say they'd rather hear from their spouse if possible, followed by their doctor or one of their adult children. Timing is also critical.

"Our research told us, for example that a change in health, and that can include a change in medication, is the top reason that older drivers think their families should talk to them about their driving," Moyhde said.