The Role of Eye Tracking Technology in Assessing Older Driver Safety

A growing body of literature is focused on the use of eye tracking (ET) technology to understand the association between objective visual parameters and higher order brain processes such as cognition. One of the settings where this principle has found practical utility is in the area of driving safety. Methods: We reviewed the literature to identify the changes in ET parameters with older adults and neurodegenerative disease. Results: This narrative review provides a brief overview of oculomotor system anatomy and physiology, defines common eye movements and tracking variables that are typically studied, explains the most common methods of eye tracking measurements during driving in simulation and in naturalistic settings, and examines the association of impairment in ET parameters with advanced age and neurodegenerative disease. Conclusion: ET technology is becoming less expensive, more portable, easier to use, and readily applicable in a variety of clinical settings. Older adults and especially those with neurodegenerative disease may have impairments in visual search parameters, placing them at risk for motor vehicle crashes. Advanced driver assessment systems are becoming more ubiquitous in newer cars and may significantly reduce crashes related to impaired visual search, distraction, and/or fatigue.

Transportation and Aging: An Updated Research Agenda for Advancing Safe Mobility

This article discusses what is currently known about three important topics related to older driver safety and mobility: screening and evaluation, education and training interventions, and in-vehicle technology. Progress is being made to improve the safe mobility of older adults in these key areas; however, significant research gaps remain. This article advances the state of knowledge by identifying these gaps, and proposing further research topics will improve the lives of older adults. In addition, we discuss several themes that emerged from the review, including the need for multidisciplinary, community-wide solutions; large-scale, longitudinal studies; improved education/training for both older adults themselves and the variety of stakeholders involved in older adult transportation; and programs and interventions that are flexible and responsive to individual needs and differences.

Older Driver Safety: A Survey of Psychologists’ Attitudes, Knowledge, and Practices

RÉSUMÉUtilisant un sondage en ligne, nous avons examiné les connaissances, les attitudes et les pratiques en ce qui concerne les problèmes de sécurité des conducteurs âgés détenus par des psychologues cliniciens de tout le Canada qui se sont identifiés comme travaillant avec au moins quelques conducteurs de plus de 60 ans. Quatre-vingt-quatre psychologues ont répondu au sondage, et beaucoup étaient au courant des questions relatives à la sécurité des conducteurs âgés, bien que seulement environ la moitié ont déclaré que l’évaluation de l’aptitude à conduire est une question importante dans leur pratique. La majorité (75%) ont indiqué qu’ils bénéficieraient de l’éducation relative à l’évaluation de l’aptitude à conduire. La principale recommandation qui ressort de cette enquête est qu’il faut des efforts accrus pour sensibiliser les psychologues sur l’évaluation liée à la conduite et les questions réglementaires en général, mais en particulier en ce qui concerne les personnes âgées. En tant que la population vieillit, il est d’une importance croissante que tous les fournisseurs de soins de santé comprennent l’influence des conditions mentales—y compris des troubles cognitifs et de la démence—sur les compétences de conduite.