Citation

Nakano T, Yamada M, Yamamoto S. IATSS Res. 2008; 32(1): 44-53.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article presents a method for assessing the driving ability of elderly drivers. The article first reviews common patterns in collisions involving elderly drivers as well as some of the physical failures that lead to these collisions. The authors next discuss current technologies used to asses driving ability in the elderly which use both a written test and a computer test used for assessing reaction time, decision-making speed reaction consistency, and relaxation response. The authors see these methods as assessing reactions only in emergencies, and see a need for assessment of function in regular circumstances. Important parameters such as dynamic visual acuity (DVA), depth perception, and useful field of view are not considered in usual assessments. The article details a driving ability assessment designed by the authors which involves a driving simulator, and measures many of the parameters that the authors identified as important. Included are sample measurements, and the method for measuring driving ability, as well as a simplified measurement system for driving schools.