Near Peripheral Motion Detection Threshold Predicts Detection Failure Accident Risk in Younger and Older Drivers

Abstract

Summary: Motion contrast thresholds for 0.4 cycle/degree drifting Gabor stimuli were assessed at 15-degrees eccentricity for 16 younger drivers (ages 24 to 42), and 15 older drivers (ages 65 to 84), using a temporal two-alternative forced choice staircase procedure. Two self-report questionnaires assessed detection failure accident risk-the Driver Perception Questionnaire (DPQ5), and an abridged Aging Driver Questionnaire (ADQ15). The UFOV ® test battery was also administered. Mean peripheral motion contrast thresholds (PMCT) of younger and older participants were -39.3 dB and -33.8 dB, respectively. For younger drivers, the correlation between PMCT and DPQ5 scores was .62 (p<.01), and between DPQ5 and ADQ16 (new and validated self-report measures, respectively) was .59 (p<.01). For older drivers, correlation between PMCT and DPQ5 scores was .49 (p<.01), between DPQ5 and ADQ16 was .73 (p<.01), and between PMCT and age was .49 (p<.05). For drivers overall, correlation was .48 (p<.01) between PMCT and DPQ5 scores, .63 (p<.0001) between DPQ5 and ADQ16, and .69 (p<.0001) between PMCT and age. For drivers overall, correlation was .30 (p<.05) between UFOV1 and age, .67 (p<.0001) between UFOV2 and age, .56 (p<.001) between UFOV2 and PMCT, .80 (p<.0001) between UFOV3 and age, and .58 (p<.001) between UFOV3 and PMCT. Holding age constant, partial correlation of PMCT with DPQ5 was .55 (p<.001), and of PMCT with ADQ15 was .39 (p<.05). PMCT significantly predicted self-reported driving performance in a laboratory setting, and worsened significantly with age. PMCT assessment should be made practicable. Informing high-risk drivers may encourage appropriate risk reduction countermeasures.

Crash avoidance in response to challenging driving events: The roles of age, serialization, and driving simulator platform

“…Reaction time scores using the low-cost desktop simulator with respect to crash occurrence and age group. ability for older adults whereas driving ability among younger age groups may be better explained by driving styles (Anstey et al, 2005;Ball et al, 2006;Classen et al, 2008;Clay et al, 2005;Henderson et al, 2007Henderson et al, , 2009Lee et al, 2002;Rizzo et al, 2004).…”

Near Peripheral Motion Contrast Threshold Predicts Older Drivers' Driving Simulator Performance

“…PMCT was very strongly associated with UFOV2, suggesting that the two vision measures tap common or overlapping visual functions, as Henderson et al (2007) had suggested. PMCT was very strongly associated with crashes and with drivers' overall assessed simulator performance (G2-rater), and strongly with Missed Stops.…”

“…For example, at-risk drivers could restrict the length of their glances away from the driving environment to well under two seconds (Henderson et al, 2007). In addition, research could determine if training in voluntary scanning techniques (Scheiber, 1998) offers an effective countermeasure for the deficit.…”

“…We also tested for an age-related decline in PMCT across two age groups, and within a sample of older drivers. In addition, the method of descending limits we developed to assess PMCT required less than ten minutes, compared to the twenty minutes required by the previous two-alternative forced choice method (Henderson & Donderi, 2005;Henderson et al, 2007).…”

“…An age-related decline in visual motion detection may lead to some of these age-related attention or detection failure accidents (Henderson & Donderi, 2005;Henderson, Gagnon, Bélanger, Tabone & Collin, 2007). Henderson et al proposed that a decline in motion contrast sensitivity in the near periphery, analogous to the known decline in motion contrast sensitivity in central vision after 65 or 70 years of age (Sekuler & Owsley, 1982), may impair some older drivers' visual orienting reflex toward encroaching objects.…”