Research to Enhance the Safe Driving Performance of Older Commercial Vehicle Drivers: Effects of Selected Ergonomic Interventions upon Driving Performance

Abstract

Interventions designed to target ability deficiencies common among older commercial vehicle drivers were evaluated during the course of this effort. Four interventions, consisting of three in-vehicle compensatory aids and a single driver training program, were used in the study. A between-subjects design was used to assess the effects of each intervention; subjects assigned to an experimental group received all four interventions, while those in a control condition were not exposed to the countermeasures. The degree to which the interventions enhanced, or otherwise influenced driving performance was examined by contrasting performance with versus without the interventions (i.e., comparing the experimental and control groups). Assignment to each experimental condition was blocked (or grouped) by age. Results indicated that all four interventions led to enhanced performance.