An important perceptual task during driving is the detection and avoidance of collisions. This study examines whether the effectiveness of using optical information for braking control varies as a function of age and gender. Four groups of observers (younger men/women; older men/women) were presented with displays simulating forward motion through a roadway scene. Four different simulated collision events were examined and subjects were asked to indicate whether or not a collision would occur, at varying speeds and distances. The average proportion of collision judgements was calculated for each subject in each condition and analysed. The main effect of age was significant, with differences in response bias based on gender being dependent on speed. It is suggested that older drivers may be at greater risk of collisions during decelerations at high rate of speed, due to a decreased ability to detect that a collision is impending. (A)
Abstract