scholarly journals Older Driver Safety: A Renewed Perspective in a Survey Study in Illinois, U.S

Safety ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Roshan Pokhrel ◽  
Yan Qi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Crash Risk ◽  
Safe Driving

Older adults (aged 65 or older) are at higher risk of involvement in motor vehicle crashes. Many studies have been conducted on older road users’ safety, but how older people’s driving behavior and demographic characteristics, and warnings of side effects of prescription medication, are associated with their crash risk has not been fully investigated. Aimed to address this knowledge gap, a mail survey of older drivers in Illinois, U.S. was conducted. Information on respondents’ driving behaviors, demographic characteristics, physical conditions, medication use, crash experience, etc. was gathered. Response distributions, odds ratios, and logistic regression models were employed to analyze the survey data. The results showed that most respondents kept a high level of mobility despite driving difficulty and medication use. Older drivers’ crash risk is mainly affected by external factors (driving exposure, alcohol consumption, and medication use) rather than their demographic characteristics and driving difficulty. Warnings from physicians on the side effects of prescription drugs had no significant effects on older drivers’ crash risk. Given the importance of mobility to older adults, the focus needs to be placed on providing a safe roadway system and safe driving advice for older drivers, particularly those who are on medication.

scholarly journals Association of Photopic and Mesopic Contrast Sensitivity in older drivers with risk of motor vehicle collision using naturalistic driving data

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Owsley ◽  
Thomas Swain ◽  
Rong Liu ◽  
Gerald McGwin ◽  
Mi Young Kwon
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Contrast Sensitivity ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crash ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Crash Risk ◽  
Sensitivity Testing ◽  
Naturalistic Driving

Abstract Background Older drivers have a crash rate nearly equal to that of young drivers whose crash rate is the highest among all age groups. Contrast sensitivity impairment is common in older adults. The purpose of this study is to examine whether parameters from the photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivity functions (CSF) are associated with incident motor vehicle crash involvement by older drivers. Methods This study utilized data from older drivers (ages ≥60 years) who participated in the Strategic Highway Research Program Naturalistic Driving Study, a prospective, population-based study. At baseline participants underwent photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivity testing for targets from 1.5–18 cycles per degree. Model fitting generated area under the log CSF (AULCSF) and peak log sensitivity. Participant vehicles were instrumented with sensors that captured continuous driving data when the vehicle was operating (accelerometers, global positioning system, forward radar, 4-channel video). They participated for 1–2 years. Crashes were coded from the video and other data streams by trained analysts. Results The photopic analysis was based on 844 drivers, and the mesopic on 854 drivers. Photopic AULCSF and peak log contrast sensitivity were not associated with crash rate, whether defined as all crashes or at-fault crashes only (all p > 0.05). Mesopic AULCSF and peak log sensitivity were associated with an increased crash rate when considered for all crashes (rate ratio (RR): 1.36, 95% CI: 1.06–1.72; RR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.01–1.63, respectively) and at-fault crashes only (RR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.16–1.93; RR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.07–1.78, respectively). Conclusions Results suggest that photopic contrast sensitivity testing may not help us understand future crash risk at the older-driver population level. Results highlight a previously unappreciated association between older adults’ mesopic contrast sensitivity deficits and crash involvement regardless of the time of day. Given the wide variability of light levels encountered in both day and night driving, mesopic vision tests, with their reliance on both cone and rod vision, may be a more comprehensive assessment of the visual system’s ability to process the roadway environment.

scholarly journals Acceptance of Transportation Technologies by Aging Adults

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.

Visual attention and self-regulation of driving among older adults

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ozioma C. Okonkwo ◽  
Michael Crowe ◽  
Virginia G. Wadley ◽  
Karlene Ball
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Attention ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Public Safety ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Crash Risk

ABSTRACTBackground: With the number of older drivers increasing, self-regulation of driving has been proposed as a viable means of balancing the autonomy of older adults against the sometimes competing demand of public safety. In this study, we investigate self-regulation of driving among a group of older adults with varying functional abilities.Method: Participants in the study comprised 1,543 drivers aged 75 years or older. They completed an objective measure of visual attention from which crash risk was estimated, and self-report measures of driving avoidance, driving exposure, physical functioning, general health status, and vision. Crash records were obtained from the State Department of Public Safety.Results: Overall, participants were most likely to avoid driving in bad weather followed by driving at night, driving on high traffic roads, driving in unfamiliar areas, and making left-hand turns across oncoming traffic. With the exception of driving at night, drivers at higher risk of crashes generally reported greater avoidance of these driving situations than lower risk drivers. However, across all driving situations a significant proportion of higher risk drivers did not restrict their driving. In general, self-regulation of driving did not result in reduced social engagement.Conclusion: Some older drivers with visual attention impairments do not restrict their driving in difficult situations. There is a need for physicians and family members to discuss driving behaviors with older adults routinely to ensure their safety. The association between visual attention and driving restriction also has implications for interventions aimed at preserving mobility in the elderly.

scholarly journals Distance from home to motor vehicle crash location: Implications for license restrictions among medically-at-risk older drivers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina R Joyce ◽  
Marzan A Khan ◽  
Andrew R Zullo ◽  
Melissa R Pfieffer ◽  
Kristina B Metzger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
At Risk ◽  
New Jersey ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crash ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Fee For Service ◽  
Medical Conditions ◽  
Crash Rates

Background/Objectives: Thirty states allow licensing agencies to restrict the distance from home that medically–at–risk drivers are permitted to drive. However, there is little information on where older drivers crash relative to their home or how distance to crash varies by medical condition, and thus, what impact distance limits may have on motor vehicle crash rates for medically–at–risk drivers. Design: Observational study of crash-involved drivers. Setting: Medicare fee–for–service claims linked to geocoded crash locations and residential addresses from police crash reports in the state of New Jersey from 2007 through 2017. Participants: New Jersey Medicare fee–for–service beneficiaries aged 68 years and older involved in police–reported crashes. Measurements: The outcome was Euclidian distance from home to crash location. Covariates included driving-relevant medical conditions from Medicare claims, crash characteristics from police reports, and demographics from both sources. Results: There were 197,122 crash-involved older drivers for whom approximately 70% of crashes occurred within 5 miles and 95% within 25 miles of the drivers residence. The mean distance to crash was 6.0 miles. Although distance from home to the crash was generally lower among drivers with (versus without) each of the medical conditions studied, the differences were small (maximum mean difference of 2.1 miles). The largest difference in distance was by licensure status, where unlicensed/suspended drivers crashed significantly farther from home than validly licensed drivers (8.8 miles, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 8.4—9.1 vs 5.9 miles, 95% CI: 5.9 — 6.0). Conclusions: Findings suggest that the majority of older adults who crash do so within a few miles from home and that the distance to crash does not differ substantially by the presence of a driving–relevant medical condition. Thus, distance restrictions may not reduce crash rates among older adults and the tradeoff between safety and mobility warrants consideration.

scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF AN EDUCATION INTERVENTION: IMPROVING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OLDER ADULTS AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S909-S909
Author(s):  
Janna Heyman ◽  
Linda White-Ryan ◽  
Peggy Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Educational Intervention ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Over The Counter ◽  
Medical Needs ◽  
The Impact

Abstract As people age, ensuing physical and psychological problems can increase, which makes it paramount to be comfortable discussing medical needs with health care professionals, particularly in light of the danger associated with misunderstanding medication use and combining alcohol with prescriptions and/or over the counter medications (National Institute on Aging, 2018). National studies found that about 40 percent of adults ages 65 and older drink alcohol and often do not understand the dangers of combining alcohol with medications (National Institute for Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse, 2008). An educational intervention was developed with a team of expert physicians, nurses, pharmacists and social workers who work in gerontology to focus on improving communication and addressing alcohol and medication use for older adults. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess whether the educational intervention improved older adults’ comfort in communicating with their health care providers, as well as their knowledge of the concomitant use of alcohol and prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Results of a MANCOVA showed that those in the intervention group showed larger increases in scores on communication with their health providers and knowledge about the implications of combining alcohol with prescription drugs than those in the control group (Wilks’ Lamda=.808, F(3,76)=6.039, p=.001<.05). In addition, linear regression models showed that the intervention was significantly associated with participants’ knowledge of the implications of combining alcohol with prescription drugs. The coefficient across models was approximately 1.00, which represented a substantial increase given the average score of 6.5.

Impact of gender on first eye cataract surgery and motor vehicle crash risk for older drivers

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 591-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn B Meuleners ◽  
Jonathon Q Ng ◽  
Michelle Fraser ◽  
Delia Hendrie ◽  
Nigel Morlet
Keyword(s):  
Cataract Surgery ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crash ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Crash Risk ◽  
Vehicle Crash

scholarly journals Effects of age, experience and training on hazard perception

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Greenbaum
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Attention ◽  
Automatic Transmission ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Crash Risk ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Single Session ◽  
Hazard Perception ◽  
Middle Aged Adults ◽  
And Training

Hazard perception (ability to identify dangerous road situations that require evasive action) declines with age and is linked to changes in visual attention and crash risk. Evidence shows that training can improve this ability in older adults. Yet, no study has considered the type of experience (manual versus automatic transmission) these older drivers have. The current study aims to fill this gap by examining the effects of age, experience and training on hazard perception ability. Twenty-four older and 23 middle aged adults (equal number of manual/automatic drivers per age group) were trained in a 20-minute single-session on hazard perception. Results indicate hazard performance declines with age and this is exacerbated with older automatic drivers. Further, the results show that generally training improves for most hazard variable. However, training does does assist older automatic drivers on identifying hazards.

scholarly journals Effects of age, experience and training on hazard perception

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Greenbaum
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Attention ◽  
Automatic Transmission ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Crash Risk ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Single Session ◽  
Hazard Perception ◽  
Middle Aged Adults ◽  
And Training

Hazard perception (ability to identify dangerous road situations that require evasive action) declines with age and is linked to changes in visual attention and crash risk. Evidence shows that training can improve this ability in older adults. Yet, no study has considered the type of experience (manual versus automatic transmission) these older drivers have. The current study aims to fill this gap by examining the effects of age, experience and training on hazard perception ability. Twenty-four older and 23 middle aged adults (equal number of manual/automatic drivers per age group) were trained in a 20-minute single-session on hazard perception. Results indicate hazard performance declines with age and this is exacerbated with older automatic drivers. Further, the results show that generally training improves for most hazard variable. However, training does does assist older automatic drivers on identifying hazards.

scholarly journals On-road driving impairment following sleep deprivation differs according to age

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna W. T. Cai ◽  
Jessica E. Manousakis ◽  
Bikram Singh ◽  
Jonny Kuo ◽  
Katherine J. Jeppe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Sleep Loss ◽  
Driving Performance ◽  
Older Drivers ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Falling Asleep ◽  
Instrumented Vehicle ◽  
The Impact

AbstractImpaired driving performance due to sleep loss is a major contributor to motor-vehicle crashes, fatalities, and serious injuries. As on-road, fully-instrumented studies of drowsy driving have largely focused on young drivers, we examined the impact of sleep loss on driving performance and physiological drowsiness in both younger and older drivers of working age. Sixteen ‘younger’ adults (M = 24.3 ± 3.1 years [21–33 years], 9 males) and seventeen ‘older’ adults (M = 57.3 ± 5.2, [50–65 years], 9 males) undertook two 2 h drives on a closed-loop track in an instrumented vehicle with a qualified instructor following (i) 8 h sleep opportunity the night prior (well-rested), and (ii) after 29-h of total sleep deprivation (TSD). Following TSD, both age groups displayed increased subjective sleepiness and lane departures (p < 0.05), with younger drivers exhibiting 7.37 × more lane departures, and 11 × greater risk of near crash events following sleep loss. While older drivers exhibited a 3.5 × more lane departures following sleep loss (p = 0.008), they did not have a significant increase in near-crash events (3/34 drives). Compared to older adults, younger adults had 3.1 × more lane departures (p = < 0.001), and more near crash events (79% versus 21%, p = 0.007). Ocular measures of drowsiness, including blink duration, number of long eye closures and PERCLOS increased following sleep loss for younger adults only (p < 0.05). These results suggest that for older working-aged adults, driving impairments observed following sleep loss may not be due to falling asleep. Future work should examine whether this is attributed to other consequences of sleep loss, such as inattention or distraction from the road.

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