This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
The Relationship Between Contrast Sensitivity and the Visual Problems of Older Drivers
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Numerous age-related changes in the structure and function of the visual system have been noted in the research literature. However, little is known about the extent to which these visual changes contribute to the problems experienced by older persons in the natural environment. In an attempt to estimate the nature and magnitude of the real-world visual problems which accompany normal adult aging, a large number of male and female participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging (N=397) were examined. They ranged from 22 to 92 years of age with oversampling in the 65+subgroups. Participants completed a survey designed to assess the magnitude of visual problems experienced with everyday tasks and while driving an automobile. Approximately half of the participants also received a comprehensive examination of their visual status in the form of a psychophysically rigorous assessment of their contrast sensitivity function (CSF). Factor analysis of the survey responses revealed that visual problems experienced while driving increased with age. The emergence of these age-related difficulties occurred along five major dimensions: unexpected vehicles in the peripheral field, judgments of vehicle speed, dim instrument panel displays, windshield problems, and the inability to read street signs. These age-related increases in self-reported visual problems were significantly related to concomitant losses in contrast sensitivity at both intermediate and high spatial frequencies. These data point to areas of research which could yield promising benefits for improving real-world visual functioning among older adult populations.
Recommended Content
Technical Paper | Automotive Safety in Review |
Technical Paper | Video-Recorded “Looked-but-Failed-to-See” (LBFTS) Accidents in the Junctions of Hong Kong |
Technical Paper | A Review of ACIR Findings |
Citation
Schieber, F., Kline, D., Kline, T., and Fozard, J., "The Relationship Between Contrast Sensitivity and the Visual Problems of Older Drivers," SAE Technical Paper 920613, 1992, https://doi.org/10.4271/920613.Also In
References
- Ball K. Beard B.C. Roenker D.L. Miller R.L. Griggs D.S. 1988 Age and visual search: Expanding the useful field of view. Journal of the Optical Society of America 5 2210 2219
- Ball K. Owsley C. 1991 Identifying correlates of accident involvement for the older driver Human Factors 33 583 596
- Kline D.W. Kline T.J.B. Fozard J.L. Kosnik W. Schieber F. Sekuler R. Vision, aging and driving: The problems of older drivers Journal of Gerontology
- Kosnik W. Winslow L. Kline D.W. Rasinski K. Sekuler R. 1988 Visual changes in daily life throughout adulthood. Journal of Gerontology 43 63 70
- Kosnik W.D. Sekuler R. Kline D.W. 1990 Self-reported visual problems of older drivers. Human Factors 32 597 608
- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development 1985 Traffic safety of elderly road users. Paris: Author.
- Sekuler R. Kline D.W. Kosnik W. 1988 Your Vision: A Survey by the Vision Laboratories of Northwestern University and the University of Calgary. Calgary, Alberta: Department of Psychology, University of Calgary
- Schieber F. 1988 Vision assessment technology and screening older drivers: Past practices and emerging techniques. In Transportation Research Board's, Transportation in an aging society: Improving mobility and safety for older persons 2 Washington, DC 325 378
- Schieber F. 1992 Aging and the senses. In Birren J.E. Sloan R.B. Cohen G. Handbook of mental health and aging Academic Press 251 306
- Schieba F. Fozard J.L. Gordon-Salant S. Weiffenbach J. 1991 Optimizing the sensory-perceptual environment for older adults. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics , 7 133 162
- Scialfa C.T. Kline D.W. Lyman B.J. Kosnik W. 1987a Age differences in judgments of vehicle velocity and distance. Proceedings of the 3lst Annual Meeting of the Human Factors Society Santa Monica. CA. 558 561
- Scialfa CT. Kline D.W. Lyman B.J. 1987b Age differences in target detection as a function of retinal location and noise level: An examination of the useful field of view. Psychology and Aging 2 14 19
- Shinar D. 1992 Vision testing and elderly drivers. Proceedings of the CCMTA Workshop on Driver Vision Standards and Testing . Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators Ottawa.
- Shinar D. Schieber F. 1991 Visual requirements for safety and mobility of older drivers. Human Factors 33 507 520
- Transportation Research Board 1988 Transportation in an aging society: Improving mobility and safety for older persons 1 Washington, DC
- Wolf E. 1960 Glare and age. Archives of Ophthalmology 60 502 514
- Yee D. 1985 A survey of the traffic safety needs and problems of drivers age 55 and over. In Drivers 55+: Needs and Problems of Older Drivers. AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Falls Church, VA. 96 128