Stimulus-response behavior among senior drivers using the driving aptitude test

Abstract

To discuss the development of driving-assistance systems and enhancement of driving ability, we investigated stimulus-response behavior among elderly people by using the driving aptitude test. Participants were 100 drivers and were assigned to 3 groups based on age: 50s, 60s, and over 70. All participants provided informed consent and performed several cognitive tests and the driving aptitude test including 7 kinds of tests similar to those in the Lecture for Elderly Drivers in Japan. Analyses of response times and accuracy obtained from 4 of the 7 tests showed that participants in the 60s and over-70 groups delayed their responses when they were required to discriminate among various signals and respond using the foot pedal; and showed decreased performance under the blue-signal condition. The results helped determine elderly drivers’ stimulus-response behavior from the driving aptitude test data and indicated a factor-induced performance decrease during driving.