Assessment of driving with the global positioning system and video technology in young, middle-aged, and older drivers.
BACKGROUND
Driving is a complex task that is difficult to fully characterize objectively or in a blinded fashion. The main objective of this study was to determine the usefulness of the global positioning system (GPS) and video technology for examining age-related differences in driving. In this study, GPS was used to determine the position, velocity, and acceleration of a vehicle, driven by subjects of different ages, while video footage was used to provide a detailed context of the drive.


METHODS
Twenty-four subjects who were young (20 to 29; n = 6), middle-aged (30 to 64; n = 8), and older (65 years of age and older; n = 10) drove their own vehicles on a 30-km route of various types of roads, with a GPS receiver and video camera recording.


RESULTS
The combination of GPS and video data allowed for the determination of many age-related driving differences. The young subjects drove faster, had a shorter deceleration distance and time, as well as a shorter acceleration time. Young subjects also had a substantially higher number of infraction demerit points primarily due to speeding, not stopping fully at stop signs, and following too closely. Although the older subjects had a smaller number of demerit points assessed, they tended to make different types of errors than the young subjects, including not stopping at all at a stop sign and turning errors.


CONCLUSIONS
GPS and video technology offer new opportunities for the assessment of age-related driving performance.
Porter
Michelle M
MM
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation Studies, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. portermm@ms.umanitoba.ca
Whitton
Michael J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D016288:Computer Terminals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged