On-road driving performances at traffic signs and signals, complex intersections and left turns distinguish fit and unfit older drivers
Aging goes along with cognitive and non-cognitive changes leading to impaired driving skills in a relevant proportion of older people. However, it is unclear which driving dimensions are affected in unfit older drivers and how performance in these dimensions is related to driving-relevant cognitive and non-cognitive factors. In a prospective cross-sectional study, 110 healthy older drivers completed a standardized 50-minute on-road driving assessment being accompanied by a driving instructor and a driving expert. The driving expert evaluated practical driving skills with the TRIP protocol (TRIP total score) and determined fitness to drive (fit versus unfit). The authors used repeated-measures analysis of variance to compare fit (n = 89) and unfit (n = 21) older drivers with respect to their practical driving performance in the 12 dimensions of the TRIP. Moreover, the authors explored how driving performance in the different TRIP dimensions is related to driving-relevant cognitive and non-cognitive factors. Results revealed performance differences between the different TRIP dimensions across all drivers (main effect of TRIP dimension) with the poorest overall performances in speed adaptation. Unfit older drivers showed poorer practical driving performances than fit older drivers across all TRIP dimensions (main effect of group). The most pronounced group differences were observed at traffic signs and signals, complex intersections and left turns (TRIP dimension × group interaction). Driving performance in these dimensions was associated with different driving-relevant cognitive and non-cognitive factors. The results of the current on-road study show that impaired driving skills of unfit older drivers can be observed in multiple driving dimensions, but particularly involve traffic signs and signals, complex intersections and left turns. The findings provide both high diagnostic and therapeutic relevance. This paper matters, because the current study identified those dimensions of practical driving behavior that best distinguish between fit and unfit older drivers. In a standardized on-road driving assessment, the authors identified traffic signs and signals, complex intersections and left turns as being those driving dimensions that involve the greatest difficulties for unfit compared to fit older drivers. In a diagnostic context, the results show which driving dimensions deserve a closer look when evaluating fitness to drive. In a therapeutical context, they show which driving dimensions need more intense training. Finally, in a practical context, the results imply that traffic signs and signals need to be optimized to facilitate and accelerate their perception.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13698478
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Supplemental Notes:
- © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
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Authors:
- Toepper, Max
- 0000-0001-9741-2957
- Austerschmidt, Kim L
- Schlueter, Daniel A
- Koenig, Jessica
- Beblo, Thomas
- Driessen, Martin
- Publication Date: 2024-4
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Web
- Features: References;
- Pagination: pp 54-63
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Serial:
- Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
- Volume: 102
- Issue Number: 0
- Publisher: Elsevier
- ISSN: 1369-8478
- Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13698478
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Aged drivers; Cognition; Driver performance; Driving tests; Fitness to drive
- Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01913876
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Apr 4 2024 4:58PM