a Monash University Accident Research Centre , Monash University , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.
Traffic Inj Prev. 2015;16:225-33. doi: 10.1080/15389588.2014.933478. Epub 2014 Nov 17.
This pilot study aimed to investigate physiological responses during an on-road driving task for older and younger drivers.
Five older drivers (mean age = 74.60 years [2.97]) and 5 younger drivers (mean age = 30.00 years [3.08]) completed a series of cognitive assessments (Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA], Mini Mental Status Examination [MMSE]; Trail Making Test [Trails A and Trails B]) and an on-road driving task along a predetermined, standardized urban route in their own vehicle. Driving performance was observed and scored by a single trained observer using a standardized procedure, where driving behaviors (appropriate and inappropriate) were scored for intersection negotiation, lane changing, and merging. During the on-road driving task, participants' heart rate (HR) was monitored with an unobtrusive physiological monitor.
Younger drivers performed significantly better on all cognitive assessments compared to older drivers (MoCA: t(8) = 3.882, P <.01; MMSE: t(8) = 2.954, P <.05; Trails A: t(8) = -2.499, P <.05; Trails B: t(8) = -3.262, P <.05). Analyses of participants' performance during the on-road driving task revealed a high level of appropriate overall driving behavior (M = 87%, SD = 7.62, range = 73-95%), including intersection negotiation (M = 89%, SD = 8.37%), lane changing (M = 100%), and merging (M = 53%, SD = 28.28%). The overall proportion of appropriate driving behavior did not significantly differ across age groups (younger drivers: M = 87.6%, SD = 9.04; older drivers: M = 87.0%, SD = 6.96; t(8) = 0.118, P =.91).
Although older drivers scored lower than younger drivers on the cognitive assessments, there was no indication of cognitive overload among older drivers based on HR response to the on-road driving task. The results provide preliminary evidence that mild age-related cognitive impairment may not pose a motor vehicle crash hazard for the wider older driver population. To maintain safe mobility of the aging population, further research into the specific crash risk factors in the older driver population is warranted.
本初步研究旨在调查老年和年轻驾驶员在道路驾驶任务中的生理反应。
5 名老年驾驶员（平均年龄=74.60 岁[2.97]）和 5 名年轻驾驶员（平均年龄=30.00 岁[3.08]）在自己的车辆中沿着预定的标准化城市路线完成了一系列认知评估（蒙特利尔认知评估[MoCA]、简易精神状态检查[MMSE]；连线测试 A 和连线测试 B）和道路驾驶任务。驾驶表现由一名经过培训的单一观察员使用标准化程序进行观察和评分，其中对交叉口协商、变道和合并进行了适当和不适当的驾驶行为评分。在道路驾驶任务期间，参与者的心率（HR）通过非侵入性生理监测器进行监测。
年轻驾驶员在所有认知评估中的表现均明显优于老年驾驶员（MoCA：t（8）=3.882，P<.01；MMSE：t（8）=2.954，P<.05；Trails A：t（8）=-2.499，P<.05；Trails B：t（8）=-3.262，P<.05）。对参与者在道路驾驶任务中的表现进行分析，结果显示整体驾驶行为的适当程度较高（M=87%，SD=7.62，范围为 73-95%），包括交叉口协商（M=89%，SD=8.37%）、变道（M=100%）和合并（M=53%，SD=28.28%）。不同年龄组的适当驾驶行为比例没有显著差异（年轻驾驶员：M=87.6%，SD=9.04%；老年驾驶员：M=87.0%，SD=6.96%；t（8）=0.118，P=.91）。
尽管老年驾驶员在认知评估中的得分低于年轻驾驶员，但根据道路驾驶任务对 HR 的反应，并没有表明老年驾驶员存在认知负荷过大的情况。结果初步表明，轻度与年龄相关的认知障碍可能不会对更广泛的老年驾驶员群体造成机动车碰撞危害。为了保持老龄化人口的安全移动性，有必要对老年驾驶员群体中的特定碰撞风险因素进行进一步研究。
