title: Time-to-contact estimation errors among older drivers with useful field of view impairments.
abstract: Previous research indicates that useful field of view (UFOV) decline affects older driver performance. In particular, elderly drivers have difficulty estimating oncoming vehicle time-to-contact (TTC). The objective of this study was to evaluate how UFOV impairments affect TTC estimates in elderly drivers deciding when to make a left turn across oncoming traffic. TTC estimates were obtained from 64 middle-aged (n=17, age=46±6years) and older (n=37, age=75±6years) licensed drivers with a range of UFOV abilities using interactive scenarios in a fixed-base driving simulator. Each driver was situated in an intersection to turn left across oncoming traffic approaching and disappearing at differing distances (1.5, 3, or 5s) and speeds (45, 55, or 65mph). Drivers judged when each oncoming vehicle would collide with them if they were to turn left. Findings showed that TTC estimates across all drivers, on average, were most accurate for oncoming vehicles travelling at the highest velocities and least accurate for those travelling at the slowest velocities. Drivers with the worst UFOV scores had the least accurate TTC estimates, especially for slower oncoming vehicles. Results suggest age-related UFOV decline impairs older driver judgment of TTC with oncoming vehicles in safety-critical left-turn situations. Our results are compatible with national statistics on older driver crash proclivity at intersections.
authors.affiliation: University of Iowa, Department of Neurology, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States. Electronic address: michelle-rusch@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rusch
authors.affiliation: Auburn University, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 3301F Shelby Center for Engineering Technology, Auburn, AL 36849, United States. Electronic address: mark-schall@auburn.edu.
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Schall
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 1513 University Avenue, 3007 Mechanical Engineering, Madison, WI 53706-1572, United States. Electronic address: jdlee@engr.wisc.edu.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: University of Iowa, Department of Biostatistics, S145 College of Public Health Building, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States. Electronic address: jeffrey-dawson@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.affiliation: Proctor and Gamble, Packaging Materials Process and Delivery, 1832 Lower Muscatine Road, Iowa City, IA 52240, United States. Electronic address: samantha.v.edwards@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Samantha V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, 988440 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-8440, United States. Electronic address: matthew.rizzo@unmc.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizzo
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Designing for the elderly; Displays and controls; Driver behavior; Sensory and perceptual processes; Simulation and virtual reality