Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T04:50:27.914Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A comparison of the hazard perception ability of matched groups of healthy drivers aged 35 to 55, 65 to 74, and 75 to 84 years

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2009

MARK S. HORSWILL ,
NANCY A. PACHANA ,
JOANNE WOOD ,
SHELBY A. MARRINGTON ,
JENNA McWILLIAM  and
CYNTHIA M. McCULLOUGH
MARK S. HORSWILL*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
NANCY A. PACHANA
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
JOANNE WOOD
Affiliation:
School of Optometry, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
SHELBY A. MARRINGTON
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
JENNA McWILLIAM
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
CYNTHIA M. McCULLOUGH
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
*
*Correspondence and reprint requests to: Dr. Mark S. Horswill, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

We examined differences in response latencies obtained during a validated video-based hazard perception driving test between three healthy, community-dwelling groups: 22 mid-aged (35–55 years), 34 young–old (65–74 years), and 23 old-old (75–84 years) current drivers, matched for gender, education level, and vocabulary. We found no significant difference in performance between mid-aged and young-old groups, but the old-old group was significantly slower than the other two groups. The differences between the old-old group and the other groups combined were independently mediated by useful field of view (UFOV), contrast sensitivity, and simple reaction time measures. Given that hazard perception latency has been linked with increased crash risk, these results are consistent with the idea that increased crash risk in older adults could be a function of poorer hazard perception, though this decline does not appear to manifest until age 75+ in healthy drivers. (JINS, 2009, 15, 799–802.)

Keywords

Fitness-to-driveOlder adultsPrimary agingCognitive functionSensory declinesMotor function
Type
Brief Communications
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 15 , Issue 5 , September 2009 , pp. 799 - 802
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Cerrelli, E.C. (1998). Crash data and rates for age-sex groups of drivers, 1996. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.Google Scholar
Horswill, M.S., Marrington, S.A., McCullough, C.M., Wood, J., Pachana, N.A., McWilliam, J., & Raikos, M.K. (2008). The hazard perception ability of older drivers. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 63, 212–218.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Horswill, M.S., & McKenna, F.P. (2004). Drivers’ hazard perception ability: Situation awareness on the road. In: Banbury, S. & Tremblay, S. (Eds.), A cognitive approach to situation awareness: Theory and application (pp. 155–175). Aldershot, UK: Ashgate.Google Scholar
Pelli, D.G., Robson, J.G., & Wilkins, A.J. (1988). The design of a new letter chart for measuring contrast sensitivity. Clinical Vision Sciences, 2(3), 187.Google Scholar
Preacher, K.J., & Hayes, A.F. (2004). SPSS and SAS procedures for estimating indirect effects in simple mediation models. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments & Computers, 36(4), 717–731.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quimby, A.R., & Watts, G.R. (1981). Human factors and driving performance (Laboratory Report 1004). Crowthorne, UK: Transport and Road Research Laboratory.Google Scholar
Renge, K., Ishibashi, T., Oiri, M., Ota, H., Tsunenari, S., & Mukai, M. (2005). Elderly drivers’ hazard perception and driving performance. In Underwood, G. (Ed.), Traffic and Transport Psychology: Theory and Application (pp. 91–99). London: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Spreen, O., & Strauss, E. (1991). A compendium of neuropsychological tests: Administration, norms, and commentary. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Suzman, R., & Riley, M.W. (1985). Introducing the oldest old. Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly – Health and Society, 63(2), 177–186.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Teng, E.L., & Chui, H.C. (1987). The modified mini-mental state (3MS) examination. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 48(8), 314–317.Google ScholarPubMed
The Psychological Corporation (1999). Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence. San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Brace.Google Scholar
Wechsler, D. (1997). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition: Administration and scoring manual. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation, Harcourt Brace.Google Scholar
Wood, J.M., & Troutbeck, R. (1995). Elderly drivers and simulated visual impairment. Optometry and Vision Science, 72(2), 115–124.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed