Calibration in Older and Middle-aged Drivers: Relationship between Subjective and Objective Glance Performance at Complex Intersections. (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Unverricht, James; Yamani, Yusuke; Horrey, William J.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society ... Annual Meeting. Volume 62:Part 1(2018)
• Page Start: 1913
• Page End: 1917
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: Human engineering -- Congresses; 620.8205
• DOI: 10.1177/1541931218621434
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1541-9312

Abstract

Older drivers are an at-risk population for automobile crashes, especially at intersections. Intersection maneuvers demand a series of motor and visual responses executed at specific proximities and timings during a turn. Previous research indicates that older drivers are more likely than middle-aged drivers to neglect anticipatory glances to areas where latent hazards could materialize at intersections. Calibration, which reflects the degree of agreement (or discordance) between a driver's self-perception of their driving ability and their actual ability, might be a factor that drives the age-related differences in visual scanning at intersections. This study examined relationships between eye movement patterns while driving through intersection scenarios in a medium-fidelity simulator and their subjective performance scores for middle-aged and older drivers. The data indicated no difference in calibration scores between older and middle-aged drivers. However, data showed that older drivers with higher subjective performance executed fewer secondary glances: this pattern was not present for middle aged drivers. Further research is necessary to identify psychological mechanisms involving driver calibration that control the age-related declines in anticipatory glance behavior at intersections.