Effects of physical functional characteristics of older drivers on spatial cognition at unsignalized intersections

Abstract

This study analyzed the relationship between gaze behavior and physical functions of elderly drivers at unsignalized intersections, which have spatial characteristics that make elderly drivers more likely to be on the at-fault side of a collision. Twenty-nine elderly and 14 non-elderly drivers were asked to view 360-degree videos from five different routes of two unsignalized intersections under conditions similar to actual driving. The results were as follows. (1) The eye movement distance (EMD) was shorter for elderly drivers in most of the driving sections, with the section "At slowdown" on non-priority roads being the section where a significant difference was likely to occur. (2) For both elderly and non-elderly drivers, the amount of EMD was significantly related to visual and general physical functions such as flexibility, equilibrium, and agility.