Evaluation of older driver head functional range of motion using portable immersive virtual reality

Abstract

BackgroundThe number of drivers over 65years of age continues to increase. Although neck rotation range has been identified as a factor associated with self-reported crash history in older drivers, it was not consistently reported as indicators of older driver performance or crashes across previous studies. It is likely that drivers use neck and trunk rotation when driving, and therefore the functional range of motion (ROM) (i.e. overall rotation used during a task) of older drivers should be further examined. ObjectiveEvaluate older driver performance in an immersive virtual reality, simulated, dynamic driving blind spot target detection task. MethodsA cross-sectional laboratory study recruited twenty-six licensed drivers (14 young between 18 and 35years, and 12 older between 65 to 75years) from the local community. Participants were asked to detect targets by performing blind spot check movements while neck and trunk rotation was tracked. Functional ROM, target detection success, and time to detection were analyzed. ResultsIn addition to neck rotation, older and younger drivers on average rotated their trunks 9.96°and 18.04°, respectively. The younger drivers generally demonstrated 15.6° greater functional ROM (p<.001), were nearly twice as successful in target detection due to target location (p=.008), and had 0.46s less target detection time (p=.016) than the older drivers. ConclusionAssessing older driver functional ROM may provide more comprehensive assessment of driving ability than neck ROM. Target detection success and time to detection may also be part of the aging process as these measures differed between driver groups.