Dick de Waard appointed Associate Professor Traffic Psychology and Retention of Mobility

Dick de Waard was appointed Associate Professor Traffic Psychology and Retention of Mobility on June 1, 2015. The chair is part of the Department of Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology of the Psychology Department of the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences.

Retention of Mobility amongst the elderly and patients

The research of De Waard is part of the research programme ‘Neuropsychology across the Lifespan’. It focuses especially on maintaining mobility for the elderly and various patient-groups. In this context, the mobility of patients with a mild form of dementia and other cognitive disabilities gets a central place. Determining the ability to drive, using neuropsychological tests and simulator rides, takes an important place; as does the examination of and management of technological support systems to make sure that they are optimally equipped to support the affected functions of older road users and patients. The effects of behavioural changes and the acceptance of the support systems are also part of the research related to this chair. De Waard will work closely together with the Departments of Neurology and Clinical Neuropsychology of the UMCG and various institutes outside the university. The research is not limited to driving a car, but also examines cycling and the use of mobility scooters.

New master track ‘Traffic Psychology and Sustained Mobility’

Besides supervising bachelor and master’s theses in his field and his regular teaching, De Waard will co-ordinate and develop the new master track ‘Traffic Psychology and Sustained Mobility’. This master track will start at the beginning of September 2016.

Dick de Waard (1964) studied Experimental Psychology at the University of Groningen. Since 1989, he has worked at the Department of Psychology of the RUG, first as a researcher and lecturer at the ‘Traffic Research Centre’, and later on at the Department of Experimental Psychology, now Neuropsychology. He finished his doctoral thesis in 1996 on research that examined the mental burden of motorists.