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Abstract
This cross-sectional study compared visual-motor processing speed and reaction times between medically-at-risk drivers and normal controls to determine if the time in seconds distinguished between drivers who pass, fail, or need restrictions based on a road test. The medically-at-risk drivers’ data (N = 35, 28-89 years) were collected as part of a comprehensive driving evaluation and coded by diagnosis (e.g., cognitive, neurological, medical) and driving outcome. The healthy control (N = 121, 21-79 years) data were collected in previous studies. The Vision Coach™ Full Field 60 task was used to collect reaction times in seconds between the two groups. Independent t-tests showed a significant difference (p < .001) in trial times between healthy controls and medically-at-risk adults. No significant difference (p = .141) was found between the three diagnoses groups. The resulting scores from the Vision Coach™ demonstrated a significant different (p < .001) between those who were determined fit to drive without restrictions and those who were determined not fit to drive after a comprehensive driving evaluation, showing the potential to be used as a screening tool for determining driving risk.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
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Notes on contributors
Victoria Penna
Victoria Penna is a 2021 graduate of East Carolina’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program. During her academic career, Victoria completed research with the Research for Older Adult Driver Initiative (ROADI) as part of her work as a clinical research scholar.
Anne Dickerson
Anne E. Dickerson, PhD, OTR/L, SCDCM, FAOTA, GSA is a Professor in East Carolina University’s Department of Occupational Therapy and Director of the Research for the Older Adult Driver Initiative (ROADI). Dr. Dickerson is an international leader in research in areas of older adults, driver simulation, and teens/young adult drivers with autism spectrum disorder, and driver rehabilitation. Dr. Dickerson is author of numerous publications in occupational therapy and the broader area of transportation.
Qiang Wu
Qiang Wu, PhD, PStat received his BS in Finance from University of Science and Technology of China in 2002. He went on to receive his MA and PhD degrees in statistics from University of Pittsburgh in 2007. He immediately joined the faculty at East Carolina University as an assistant professor in the Department of Biostatistics. He taught biostatistics methods for 15 years at ECU Department of Biostatistics before joining ECU Department of Public Health.