Citation

Yamauchi S, Kawano N, Shimazaki K, Shinkai H, Kojima M, Shinohara K, Aoki H. Front. Psychol. 2024; 15: e1332118.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, Frontiers Research Foundation)

DOI

10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1332118

PMID

38469215

PMCID

PMC10925675

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To keep older drivers safe, it is necessary to assess their fitness to drive. We developed a touch screen-based digital Clock Drawing Test (dCDT) and examined the relationship between the dCDT scores and on-road driving performance of older drivers in a community-setting.

METHODS: One hundred and forty-one community-dwelling older drivers (range; 64-88 years old) who participated in this study were included in the analysis. Participants completed the dCDT, the Mini-Mental State Examination-Japanese (MMSE-J), and an on-road driving assessment. We examined the relationship between dCDT scores using the method by Rouleau et al. (maximum 10 points) and the on-road driving performance based on a driving assessment system originally developed by Nagoya University.

RESULTS: Multiple regression analyses showed that errors in the driving test were associated with dCDT score for the items "confirmation," "turning left" and "maintains driving lane position".

DISCUSSION: This study confirmed the relationship between the dCDT score and driving errors, such as confirmation, turning left and maintaining driving lane position. The increase in these errors indicates a decline in visuospatial ability while driving. The dCDT score may reflect older drivers' visuospatial abilities while driving.

Language: en

Keywords

aged; cognitive function; driving fitness; on-road driving assessment; touch screen-based dCDT; visuospatial ability