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A comparison of the hazard perception ability of matched groups of healthy drivers aged 35 to 55, 65 to 74, and 75 to 84 years

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2009

MARK S. HORSWILL ,
NANCY A. PACHANA ,
JOANNE WOOD ,
SHELBY A. MARRINGTON ,
JENNA McWILLIAM  and
CYNTHIA M. McCULLOUGH
MARK S. HORSWILL*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
NANCY A. PACHANA
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
JOANNE WOOD
Affiliation:
School of Optometry, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
SHELBY A. MARRINGTON
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
JENNA McWILLIAM
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
CYNTHIA M. McCULLOUGH
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
*
*Correspondence and reprint requests to: Dr. Mark S. Horswill, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

We examined differences in response latencies obtained during a validated video-based hazard perception driving test between three healthy, community-dwelling groups: 22 mid-aged (35–55 years), 34 young–old (65–74 years), and 23 old-old (75–84 years) current drivers, matched for gender, education level, and vocabulary. We found no significant difference in performance between mid-aged and young-old groups, but the old-old group was significantly slower than the other two groups. The differences between the old-old group and the other groups combined were independently mediated by useful field of view (UFOV), contrast sensitivity, and simple reaction time measures. Given that hazard perception latency has been linked with increased crash risk, these results are consistent with the idea that increased crash risk in older adults could be a function of poorer hazard perception, though this decline does not appear to manifest until age 75+ in healthy drivers. (JINS, 2009, 15, 799–802.)

Keywords

Fitness-to-driveOlder adultsPrimary agingCognitive functionSensory declinesMotor function
Type
Brief Communications
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 15 , Issue 5 , September 2009 , pp. 799 - 802
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2009

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