Abstract
Background and Purpose: The ability to drive is important for the elderly to maintain their mobility and independence. Therefore, to investigate age-related changes in driving-related functions and their relation to the braking ability of drivers driving at high speeds, subjects were organized by age into study groups (younger, middle-aged, and older).
Methods: For a correlational comparative study, 36 male participants were recruited and instructed to complete the Assessment of Driving-Related Skills (ADReS), lower limbs muscle test, and driving tasks on a driving simulator under 3 speed conditions. For the driving tasks, 3 event phases were analyzed: perception-reaction time (PRT), brake-movement time, and fast pressing time.
Results: Older drivers demonstrated a significant decline in certain driving-related cognitive and motor abilities, as well as hip flexion and knee extension muscle strength, and exhibited a significantly longer PRT under moderate- and high-speed conditions compared with younger drivers. A longer PRT under moderate- and high-speed conditions was significantly associated with poor driving-related cognitive and motor abilities.
Conclusion: The increased PRT for older drivers under moderate- and high-speed conditions might increase their risk of vehicular accidents on highways.