Useful visual field training: a way to improve elderly car drivers’ ability to detect vulnerable road users
Users of two-wheeled motorized vehicles accounted for 25% of fatalities on French roads in 2011, 13% pedestrians, and 3.6% cyclists (ONISR, 2012). Elderly drivers are over-involved in pedestrian related hits (Bromberg et al., 2012). For the automobile-motorcycle collisions, the most typical ones occur when an automobile manoeuvres into the path of an approaching motorcycle. According to Pai (Pai et al., 2009), elderly motorists (aged over 60) appeared to be overrepresented in accidents that imply violating the motorcycle’s right of way. These data raise the question of elderly drivers’ perception of vulnerable road users. It is possible that the ability to detect a vulnerable road user depends on motorists’ attentional ability, especially on their useful visual field (Rogé et al., 2002). The purpose of this study is to examine the ability of two groups of elderly car drivers to detect vulnerable road users in a simulated car-driving task. One group is given specific training, aimed at increasing their useful visual field, while driving. Our hypothesis is that this training would allow them to detect more easily vulnerable road users than untrained elderly drivers during simulated driving. Method The sample consisted of 31 car drivers (70.3 years old) who came two times at the laboratory. Participants in the experimental group underwent training using a table simulator aimed at increasing their useful visual field during driving. Phases during which the vehicle was stationary alternated with phases during which participants were driving. During the various stages of training, an auditory feedback informed participants of correct detections and omissions. Participants in the control group drove using the same table simulator for the same length of time as participants in the experimental group. Their task was to follow a vehicle while maintaining a constant distance between themselves and this vehicle. The driving test took place in a fixed-base car driving simulator (Peugeot 308). Participants were instructed to drive to a specific town and to respect the Highway Code. While driving, participants were required to flash their headlights as soon as they detected a motorcycle or a pedestrian and without making any mistakes. The participants’ ability to detect vulnerable road users was evaluated both prior to training (or to the ‘pursuit’ task for the untrained group) and afterwards. Results: Data analysis indicated that the training led to a significant increase in drivers’ useful visual field. In addition, the comparison of performance of the two groups showed the beneficial effect of the training on driving, as elderly drivers who received training had a better ability to detect vulnerable road users in the road environment. Conclusion: This research could potentially be applied in cognitive intervention programs for older adults in order to preserve their ability to drive and improve the safety of vulnerable road users.