title: The use of the Color Trails Test in the assessment of driver competence: preliminary report of a culture-fair instrument.
abstract: Studies have shown that the Trail Making Test (TMT) predicts real-world driving performance in individuals who have cognitive deficits. However, because this test requires knowledge of the Latin alphabet, the TMT may not be appropriate for individuals who are illiterate or for those whom English is not their primary language. Because the Color Trails Test (CTT) is not influenced by knowledge of the alphabet, the CTT may be a culture-fair alternative to the TMT. To date, the utility of the CTT in the evaluation of driver competence has not been established. In the current study, individuals referred for a comprehensive driving assessment underwent testing with the TMT and CTT. The results suggest that the CTT and the TMT provide similar information regarding road-test outcome. Thus, the CTT may be a culture-fair alternative to the TMT in the assessment of driver competence.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elkin-Frankston
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Lebowitz
authors.forename: Lissa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Kapust
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hollis
authors.forename: Margaret G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000523:psychology; D001333:Automobile Driver Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019303:Multilingualism; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics; D011930:Reaction Time; D012016:Reference Values; D013575:Syncope / Q000523:psychology; D014145:Trail Making Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*