Driving Characteristics of Older Drivers and Their Relationship to the Useful Field of View Test

Gerontology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Dukic Willstrand ◽  
Thomas Broberg ◽  
Helena Selander
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Fitness To Drive ◽  
Manual Gearbox ◽  
Traffic Lights ◽  
Useful Field Of View ◽  
Valuable Complement ◽  
The Relationship

Background: To maintain the mobility of older people in later life, it is essential to sustain their autonomy; however, driving is a complex task, requiring a large range of visual, psychomotor and cognitive abilities. Subsequently, a key issue is to measure and evaluate the fitness to drive of older drivers. Several methods have been proposed, among them the useful field of view (UFOV) test. Objective: The present study aimed to identify driving characteristics in older drivers and the relationship between the UFOV test and the on-road driving results. Method: A total of 80 drivers aged 70 years or older performed both the UFOV test and the on-road driving assessment. The ‘B On-Road' (Behaviour On-Road) protocol was used for the fitness-to-drive assessment. Results: ‘Driving too fast' was the item reported most often during the on-road assessment, followed by problems with the manual gearbox and ‘attention to signs, road lines and traffic lights'. Overall, the results showed that the older the driver, the more errors were reported during the on-road driving assessment, as well as the slower the performance on the UFOV test. A significant relationship between the total number of on-road errors, as measured by the B On-Road protocol, and the UFOV 3, which stresses the capacity of selective attention, was found. Conclusion: The recommendation is still to use on-road driving assessment to fully assess fitness to drive for older drivers whose ability to drive requires assessment. However, to supplement this, the UFOV test, in particular the UFOV 3, is a valuable complement in selecting those drivers requiring to be assessed.

scholarly journals USEFUL FIELD OF VIEW AND DRIVING SIMULATION ACROSS TWO AGE GROUPS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S968-S969
Author(s):  
Rebecca A Dunterman ◽  
Robert C Intrieri ◽  
Marisa Guernsey
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Driving Simulation ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Useful Field Of View

Abstract The Insurance Information Institute (2017) reports that drivers aged 65 and older have the second highest rate of fatal car crashes. Research with the useful field of view (UFOV) assessment has predicted crashes in older drivers (Ball, 2006). “UFOV is defined as the area from which an individual can extract information quickly without head or eye movement” (Posit Science, 2019). Research demonstrates that older drivers are limited by poorer vision, divided attention and the inability to ignore distractions, and slower reaction time to critical stimuli (Owsley et al. 1998). As a result UFOV is an effective variable in assessing driver safety. We hypothesized that older compared to younger drivers would be less likely to inhibit attention to task irrelevant visual stimuli while engaged in a simulated driving task. Participants were community dwelling older adults and students recruited from a research pool and through word of mouth. Participants completed a series of demographic and health questions, Snellen visual acuity test a series of cognitive measures (e. g., Trails 1 and 2, digit symbol, digit span) and the UFOV assessment. Participants completed a driving simulation task while information on driving performance: number of collisions, speed limit deviations, turn signal use, time spent tailgating another vehicle, and braking reaction times. ANOVA demonstrated that as hypothesized, younger participants had significantly lower UFOV risk scores (p = .000). Older adults’ (M = 2.15, SD = .945) and younger adults’ (M = 1, SD = 0).

scholarly journals Aiding medical professionals in fitness-to-drive screenings for elderly drivers: development of an office-based screening tool

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1211-1225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith H.J. Urlings ◽  
Ariane Cuenen ◽  
Tom Brijs ◽  
Mark Lutin ◽  
Ellen M.M. Jongen
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Predictive Accuracy ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Functional Abilities ◽  
Independent Mobility ◽  
Fitness To Drive ◽  
Elderly Drivers

ABSTRACTBackground:Elderly drivers are an increasing group in society. Previous research has found that functional and cognitive abilities are more important for driving abilities than biological age. In an attempt to conserve independent mobility for elderly drivers, many researchers have focused on elderly drivers diagnosed with cognitive decline (mild cognitive impairment or mild Dementia). This study is the first to focus on elderly drivers with cognitive complaints or suspected of diminished fitness to drive by an (in)formal caregiver as an at-risk group.Methods:The main objective of this study was to develop a fitness to drive screening tool for elderly drivers to be used in a doctor's office. Furthermore, this study investigated the additional value of driving simulator tests in the assessment of fitness to drive. Both screenings (functional abilities and driving simulator test) were benchmarked against the official Belgian fitness to drive licensing procedure.Results:One-hundred thirty-six elderly drivers participated in a functional abilities screening, a driving simulator assessment and an on-road driving test. Sixty-five percent of the sample was considered fit to drive. Visual acuity, physical flexibility, and knowledge of road signs were found to be the best predictive set of tests for the on-road fitness to drive outcome. A performance based driving simulator assessment increased predictive accuracy significantly.Conclusion:The proposed screening procedure saves part of the at-risk elderly driver population from stressful and costly on-road driving evaluations. This procedure provides more information of an individual driver's specific driving parameters. This opens doors for personalized older driver training to maintain independent mobility in later life.

Cumulative Meta-analysis of the Relationship Between Useful Field of View and Driving Performance in Older Adults: Current and Future Implications

2005 ◽  
Vol 82 (8) ◽  
pp. 724-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
OLIVIO J. CLAY ◽  
VIRGINIA G. WADLEY ◽  
JERRI D. EDWARDS ◽  
DAVID L. ROTH ◽  
DANIEL L. ROENKER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Driving Performance ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Useful Field Of View ◽  
The Relationship

scholarly journals Time-to-contact estimation errors among older drivers with useful field of view impairments

2016 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
pp. 284-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle L. Rusch ◽  
Mark C. Schall ◽  
John D. Lee ◽  
Jeffrey D. Dawson ◽  
Samantha V. Edwards ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Drivers ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Estimation Errors ◽  
Time To Contact ◽  
Useful Field Of View

The Relationship of Age and Cognitive Characteristics of Drivers to Performance of Driving Tasks on an Interactive Driving Simulator

1995 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
José H. Guerrier ◽  
P. Manivannan ◽  
Anna Pacheco ◽  
Frances L. Wilkie
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Cognitive Characteristics ◽  
The Road ◽  
Current Thinking ◽  
Private Car ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Older adults depend highly on the automobile to satisfy their mobility needs. They use the private car for the majority of their trips. However, driving is not without risks for older drivers and those who share the road with them. Drivers 65 and older contribute to more accidents per mile driven than younger drivers except those 18-24 years old. Furthermore, they are more likely to be injured or die as a result of such accidents than their younger counterparts. Current thinking suggests that the cognitive abilities of older drivers may be the best explanation for these accidents. This study investigated the contribution of age and specific cognitive, psychomotor, and perceptual dimensions upon the performance of driving tasks on an interactive simulator. The results suggest that age as such does not explain performance of driving tasks. Rather, age-sensitive cognitive characteristics of drivers provide a better understanding of performance of specific driving tasks.

A-10 Role of Fluid Cognitive Status in the Association of Frontoparietal Control and Cingulo-Opercular Networks with the Useful Field of View Task: Implications for Cognitive Training in Aging

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1049-1050
Author(s):  
Cheshire Hardcastle ◽  
Hanna K Hausman ◽  
Jessica N Kraft ◽  
Alejandro Albizu ◽  
Andrew O'Shea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Useful Field Of View ◽  
The University ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Objective Training in a divided attention/speed-of-processing task called Useful Field of View (UFOV) reduced dementia risk in older adults. Higher connectivity in resting-state networks involved in attention/inter-network modulation (cingulo-opercular network(CON); frontoparietal control network(FPCN)) relates to better UFOV performance. Cognitive status relates to CON connectivity and UFOV performance. Therefore, it may be an important third variable to consider. This study assessed the mediation of cognitive status on the relationship between CON/FPCN connectivity and UFOV performance. Methods 266 healthy older adults (age M = 71.4, SD = 5.18; 92% Caucasian) were recruited through a clinical trial at the University of Florida and the University of Arizona. Cognitive status was defined by the NIH Toolbox Fluid Composite score, assessing processing speed, attention/inhibition, executive functioning, and working/episodic memory. UFOV via the Double Decision assessment was administered. Participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Average within-network connectivity of CON and FPCN were extracted with the CONN Toolboxv18b via SPM12. Mediation of cognitive status on the relationship between CON/FPCN connectivity and UFOV performance was assessed controlling for sex, age, education, and site. Results Cognitive status fully mediated the indirect effect of CON on UFOV [b = −0.1776; 95%CI (−0.3194, −0.0684)] Figure 1, and FPCN on UFOV [b = −0.1461; 95%CI (−0.2934, −0.0342)] Figure 2. Conclusions Cognitive status accounted in part for the association between CON/FPCN connectivity and UFOV performance. Older adults with higher cognitive status had stronger functional connectivity and better UFOV performance. Future research should explore the influence of cognitive status on functional connectivity after UFOV training, and investigate which cognitive domains are most influential.

Isolating Risk Factors for Crash Frequency among Older Drivers

1993 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karlene Ball ◽  
Cynthia Owsley ◽  
Daniel Roenker ◽  
Michael Sloane
Keyword(s):  
Visual Attention ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Sensory Function ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Useful Field Of View ◽  
Age Related

By the year 2024, 25% of drivers in the U.S. will be over the age of 65. Older drivers have more crashes and fatalities per mile driven than any other adult age group. Although driving is a highly visual task and vision impairment is more prevalent in the elderly, previous research has failed to identify visual factors which are strongly associated with increased crashes in the elderly. Using a comprehensive approach to assess several aspects of visual processing in a large sample of older drivers, this study has identified a measure of visual attention that had high sensitivity (89%) and specificity (85%) in predicting which older drivers had a history of crash problems, a level of predictability unprecedented in research on crash risk in older drivers. The “useful field of view”, as it is called, measures the spatial area within which an individual can be rapidly alerted to visual stimuli. Older adults with substantial shrinkage in the useful field of view were six times more likely to have incurred one or more crashes in the previous five year period. By comparison, visual sensory function, cognitive status, and chronological age were poor predictors of crash involvement. This study suggests that policies which restrict driving privileges based solely on age or on stereotypes of age-related declines in vision and cognition are scientifically unfounded. With the identification of a visual attention measure highly predictive of crash problems in the elderly, decisions on the suitability of licensure in the older adult population can be based on objective, visual-performance-based criteria.

scholarly journals Predicting On-Road Driving Skills, Fitness to Drive, and Prospective Accident Risk in Older Drivers and Drivers with Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Importance of Non-Cognitive Risk Factors

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 401-414
Author(s):  
Max Toepper ◽  
Philipp Schulz ◽  
Thomas Beblo ◽  
Martin Driessen
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Accident Risk ◽  
Fitness To Drive ◽  
Cognitive Predictors ◽  
Driving Skills ◽  
Cognitive Risk ◽  
Cognitive Risk Factors

Background: On-road driving behavior can be impaired in older drivers and particularly in drivers with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Objective: To determine whether cognitive and non-cognitive risk factors for driving safety may allow an accurate and economic prediction of on-road driving skills, fitness to drive, and prospective accident risk in healthy older drivers and drivers with MCI, we examined a representative combined sample of older drivers with and without MCI (N = 74) in an observational on-road study. In particular, we examined whether non-cognitive risk factors improve predictive accuracy provided by cognitive factors alone. Methods: Multiple and logistic hierarchical regression analyses were utilized to predict different driving outcomes. In all regression models, we included cognitive predictors alone in a first step and added non-cognitive predictors in a second step. Results: Results revealed that the combination of cognitive and non-cognitive risk factors significantly predicted driving skills (R2adjusted = 0.30) and fitness to drive (81.2% accuracy) as well as the number (R2adjusted = 0.21) and occurrence (88.3% accuracy) of prospective minor at-fault accidents within the next 12 months. In all analyses, the inclusion of non-cognitive risk factors led to a significant increase of explained variance in the different outcome variables. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a combination of the most robust cognitive and non-cognitive risk factors may allow an economic and accurate prediction of on-road driving performance and prospective accident risk in healthy older drivers and drivers with MCI. Therefore, non-cognitive risk factors appear to play an important role.

scholarly journals Investigating On-Road Lane Maintenance and Speed Regulation in Post-Stroke Driving: A Pilot Case–Control Study

Geriatrics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
Heng Zhou ◽  
Qian (Chayn) Sun ◽  
Alison Blane ◽  
Brett Hughes ◽  
Torbjörn Falkmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Speed Control ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Control Performance ◽  
Post Stroke ◽  
Speed Regulation ◽  
Stroke Population ◽  
Lane Keeping

Stroke can adversely affect the coordination and judgement of drivers due to executive dysfunction, which is relatively common in the post-stroke population but often undetected. Quantitatively examining vehicle control performance in post-stroke driving becomes essential to inspect whether and where post-stroke older drivers are risky. To date, it is unclear as to which indicators, such as lane keeping or speed control, can differentiate the driving performance of post-stroke older drivers from that of normal (neurotypical) older drivers. By employing a case–control design using advanced vehicle movement tracking and analysis technology, this pilot study aimed to compare the variations in driving trajectory, lane keeping and speed control between the two groups of older drivers using spatial and statistical techniques. The results showed that the mean standard deviation of lane deviation (SDLD) in post-stroke participants was higher than that of normal participants in complex driving tasks (U-turn and left turn) but almost the same in simple driving tasks (straight line sections). No statistically significant differences were found in the speed control performance. The findings indicate that, although older drivers can still drive as they need to after a stroke, the decline in cognitive abilities still imposes a higher cognitive workload and more effort for post-stroke older drivers. Future studies can investigate post-stroke adults’ driving behaviour at more challenging driving scenarios or design driving intervention programs to improve their executive function in driving.

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