Driving Task: How Older Drivers' On-Road Driving Performance Relates to Abilities, Perceptions, and Restrictions

RESUME Cette etude a examine une cohorte de 227 conducteurs ages et a etudie la relation entre leur performance sur la grille d'observation e-DOS pour manOEuvres de conduite et (1) les caracteristiques des conducteurs; (2) les capacites fonctionnelles; (3) les perceptions des capacites et le confort pendant la conduite, ainsi que (4) les restrictions auto-declarees de la conduite. Les participants (hommes: 70%; age: M = 81.53 ans, E-T = 3,37 ans) a acheve une serie de mesures de la capacite fonctionnelle et d'ecailles sur le confort, les capacites et les restrictions apercut du Candrive / Ozcandrive protocole d'evaluation Annee 2, avec une tache de conduite e-DOS. Les observations des comportements de conduite des participants au cours de la tache de conduite ont ete enregistrees pour : la negociation au carrefour, le changement de voie, la fusion, les manOEuvres a basse vitesse, et la conduite sans manoeuvres. Les scores de conduite e-DOS etaient eleves (M = 94,74; E-T = 5,70) et etaient lies d'une facon significative aux capacite de conduite percu des participants, la frequence rapporte de la conduite dans des situations difficiles, et le nombre de restrictions de la conduite. Les analyses futures exploreront les changements potentiels dans les scores de taches de conduite au fil du temps. ABSTRACT This study examined a cohort of 227 older drivers and investigated the relationship between performance on the electronic Driver Observation Schedule (eDOS) driving task and: (1) driver characteristics; (2) functional abilities; (3) perceptions of driving comfort and abilities; and (4) self-reported driving restrictions. Participants (male: 70%; age: M = 81.53 years, SD = 3.37 years) completed a series of functional ability measures and scales on perceived driving comfort, abilities, and driving restrictions from the Year 2 Candrive/Ozcandrive assessment protocol, along with an eDOS driving task. Observations of participants' driving behaviours during the driving task were recorded for intersection negotiation, lane-changing, merging, low-speed maneuvers, and maneuver-free driving. eDOS driving task scores were high (M = 94.74; SD = 5.70) and significantly related to participants' perceived driving abilities, reported frequency of driving in challenging situations, and number of driving restrictions. Future analyses will explore potential changes in driving task scores over time.