Two groups of 20 car drivers drove around a pre-determined route under normal traffic conditions: during the drive certain aspects of driving behaviour were observed by two observers accompanying each subject. After the drive subjects had their reaction times to visual stimuli measured; finally each subject was given an interview and a card-sorting test to obtain information on his attitudes certain aspects of the driving situation. One group consisted of drivers between the ages of 17 and 20 years; the other group consisted of drivers between 60 and 70 years of age. The younger group showed significantly shorter reaction times as regards simple reaction time, choice reaction time and peripheral-left reaction time.
Abstract