Training Working Memory of Older Drivers: The Effect on Working Memory and Simulated Driving Performance

Aging leads to impaired visual function, which can affect driving—a very visually demanding task—and has a direct impact on an individual’s quality of life if their license is withdrawn. This study examined the associations between age-related vision changes and simulated driving performance. To this end, we attempted to determine the most significant visual parameters in terms of evaluating elderly drivers’ eyesight. Twenty-one younger drivers (aged 25–40) were compared to 21 older drivers (aged 56–71). Study participants were assessed for visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, halos, and intraocular straylight, which causes veiling luminance on the retina and degrades vision. Driving performance was evaluated using a driving simulator. The relationships between simulated driving performance and the visual parameters tested were examined with correlation analyses and linear regression models. Older drivers presented impairment in most visual parameters (p < 0.05), with straylight being the most significantly affected (we also measured the associated effect size). Older drivers performed significantly worse (p < 0.05) in the simulator test, with a markedly lower performance in lane stability. The results of the multiple linear regression model evidenced that intraocular straylight is the best visual parameter for predicting simulated driving performance (R2 = 0.513). Older drivers have shown significantly poorer results in several aspects of visual function, as well as difficulties in driving simulator performance. Our results suggest that the non-standardized straylight evaluation could be significant in driver assessments, especially at the onset of age-related vision changes.

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Enhancing Older Drivers’ Safety: On Effects Induced by Stereotype Threat to Older Adults’ Driving Performance, Working Memory and Self-Regulation

Geriatrics ◽

10.3390/geriatrics1030020 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 20 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lisa Brelet ◽

Ladislav Moták ◽

Magali Ginet ◽

Nathalie Huet ◽

Marie Izaute ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Working Memory ◽

Stereotype Threat ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Driving Performance ◽

Older Drivers

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The impact of Stereotype Threat on the simulated driving performance of older drivers

Accident Analysis & Prevention ◽

10.1016/j.aap.2012.05.032 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 50 ◽

pp. 530-538 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Mélanie Joanisse ◽

Sylvain Gagnon ◽

Mihnea Voloaca

Keyword(s):

Stereotype Threat ◽

Driving Performance ◽

Older Drivers ◽

Simulated Driving ◽

The Impact

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Three-Dimensional Multiple Object Tracking Speed Thresholds are Associated with Measures of Simulated Driving Performance in Older Drivers

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1541931213601505 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 42-45

Author(s):

Heather Woods-Fry ◽

Swanti Deut ◽

Charles A. Collin ◽

Sylvain Gagnon ◽

Jocelyn Faubert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Object Tracking ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Multiple Object Tracking ◽

Driving Performance ◽

Older Drivers ◽

Motion Processing ◽

Simulated Driving ◽

Older Driver ◽

Multiple Object ◽

The Relationship

We assessed the relationship between three-dimensional multiple-object-tracking (3D-MOT) ability and older driver simulated driving performance. Participants included 30 older drivers from the local community who completed two experimental driving scenarios, as well as a three-dimensional multiple object tracking task, called the 3D-MOT task. The speed thresholds on the 3D-MOT task were strongly negatively associated with lane deviation and crash rates during a simulated highway drive. Our findings help to expand the existing knowledge regarding multiple object tracking and driving, as it is commonly assumed that some aspects of driving include the ability to track the movement of many objects. Our findings further elucidate the relationship that motion processing has with driving performance in the older driver population.

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The effects of impaired vision on simulated driving performance

10.26226/morressier.5785edc8d462b80296c9974a ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Aurora van de Loo

Keyword(s):

Driving Performance ◽

Impaired Vision ◽

Simulated Driving

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Effects of Individual Differences, Attention, and Memory Deficits on Driver Distraction

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1071181320641285 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 1196-1201

Author(s):

Alejandro A. Arca ◽

Kaitlin M. Stanford ◽

Mustapha Mouloua

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Driving Simulator ◽

Memory Deficits ◽

Driving Performance ◽

Driver Distraction ◽

Phone Call ◽

Traffic Density ◽

Attention And Memory ◽

Adhd Diagnosis ◽

Simulated Driving

The current study was designed to empirically examine the effects of individual differences in attention and memory deficits on driver distraction. Forty-eight participants consisting of 37 non-ADHD and 11 ADHD drivers were tested in a medium fidelity GE-ISIM driving simulator. All participants took part in a series of simulated driving scenarios involving both high and low traffic conditions in conjunction with completing a 20-Questions task either by text- message or phone-call. Measures of UFOV, simulated driving, heart rate variability, and subjective (NASA TLX) workload performance were recorded for each of the experimental tasks. It was hypothesized that ADHD diagnosis, type of cellular distraction, and traffic density would affect driving performance as measured by driving performance, workload assessment, and physiological measures. Preliminary results indicated that ADHD diagnosis, type of cellular distraction, and traffic density affected the performance of the secondary task. These results provide further evidence for the deleterious effects of cellphone use on driver distraction, especially for drivers who are diagnosed with attention-deficit and memory capacity deficits. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, and directions for future research are also presented.

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The effects of using a portable music player on simulated driving performance and task-sharing strategies

Applied Ergonomics ◽

10.1016/j.apergo.2011.11.007 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 43 (4) ◽

pp. 738-746 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Kristie L. Young ◽

Eve Mitsopoulos-Rubens ◽

Christina M. Rudin-Brown ◽

Michael G. Lenné

Keyword(s):

Driving Performance ◽

Task Sharing ◽

Simulated Driving ◽

Music Player ◽

And Task

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Acceptance of Transportation Technologies by Aging Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1822 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 555-555

Author(s):

Neil Charness ◽

Dustin Souders ◽

Ryan Best ◽

Nelson Roque ◽

JongSung Yoon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Older Adult ◽

Detection System ◽

Blind Spot ◽

Driving Performance ◽

Older Drivers ◽

Crash Risk ◽

Warning Systems ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

Spot Detection

Abstract Older adults are at greater risk of death and serious injury in transportation crashes which have been increasing in older adult cohorts relative to younger cohorts. Can technology provide a safer road environment? Even if technology can mitigate crash risk, is it acceptable to older road users? We outline the results from several studies that tested 1) whether advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) can improve older adult driving performance, 2) older adults’ acceptance of ADAS and Autonomous Vehicle (AV) systems, and 3) perceptions of value for ADAS systems, particularly for blind-spot detection systems. We found that collision avoidance warning systems improved older adult simulator driving performance, but not lane departure warning systems. In a young to middle-aged sample the factor “concern with AV” showed age effects with older drivers less favorable. Older drivers, however, valued an active blind spot detection system more than younger drivers.

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