THE EFFECT OF DRIVER CATARACT DEVELOPMENT ON ROADWAY SIGN NIGHTTIME LEGIBILITY

Research has shown a relationship between vehicle accidents and the loss of visual acuity resulting from cataracts and that older drivers with cataracts are 2.5 times more likely to be involved in a crash than those without cataracts. However, past studies have not determined the level of cataract development required to affect a driver's performance. This pilot study investigated the relationship between levels of cataract development and legibility of roadway signs at night. Observations were made for 2 viewing distances and 7 sign luminance levels, with and without opposing headlight glare. The subjects included persons with no cataracts, early cataracts, visually significant cataracts, and persons who had their cataracts surgically removed. The study results show that subjects with early cataracts and significant cataracts identified fewer signs correctly for all sign luminance levels, with and without glare present, than did subjects with no cataracts and subjects who had cataracts surgically removed. Performance of the subjects with cataracts improved somewhat at the closer viewing distance and with increasing sign luminance level. When comparing subjects with no cataracts to post-surgery subjects, there was little difference in visual performance. Study results suggest that a functional disability exists for drivers with early cataracts as well as developed cataracts when reading highway signs at night. This visual disability is more severe for low sign luminance levels.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Full conference proceedings available only on CD-ROM.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Iowa, Iowa City

  Center for Computer Aided Design, Engineering Research Facility
  Iowa City, IA  United States  52242
• Authors:
  • Carroll, J T
  • Graham, J R
  • King, L Ellis
  • Mancil, G L
  • Mancil, R M
• Conference:
  • 16th Biennial Symposium on Visibility and Simulation
  • Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City
  • Date: 2002-6-2 to 2002-6-4
• Publication Date: 2002

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 9p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile drivers; Automobile driving; Diseases and medical conditions; High risk drivers; Highway safety; Highway transportation; Pilot studies; Traffic crashes; Visually impaired persons
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cataracts
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00926369
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 29 2002 12:00AM