Naturalistic Driving Research Among Older Drivers Helps to Eliminate Bias in Traffic Accident Reports

Article: New research assesses naturalistic driving techniques to link vision impairment and traffic accidents
Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham, via NEI
Published: April 29, 2021

Researchers using data from the Alabama VIP Older Driver Study found that naturalistic driving research confirmed that contrast sensitivity impairment, slowed visual processing speed and deficits in motion perception elevated crash and near-crash risk in older drivers. The study involved a great deal of cooperation from older driver participants, who had devices consisting of five-channel video, accelerometers, and GPS installed on their vehicles with continual recording over a six-month period. As the lead researcher explains, use of in-vehicle instrumentation eliminates biases and incomplete reports due to different perspectives from the drivers, witnesses, and law enforcement. She comments, “Witnesses can have different perspectives, meaning the driver may not feel they were responsible, but other witnesses may disagree. The police officer then has to piece it together and make notations on the accident report as to what they think happened, including whether a driver is at fault. Police officers can also have their own biases. Some may not want to blame an older adult driver, whereas others may hold older adults largely responsible due to stereotyping.” What is especially informative about naturalistic driving research is that it can identify near-crashes. Characterized by the "last-second" evasive maneuver by the driver, near crashes occur more frequently than actual crashes but have similar underlying causes. Furthermore, the study found associations between actual crashes and at-fault and the driver's visual capabilities. Naturalistic driving research can thus aid to provide more objective information for traffic accident reports as well as link at-fault crashes and near crashes with older drivers' vision impairment.

My rating of this study: ⭐

Swain TA, McGwin G, Wood JM, et al. "Naturalistic Driving Techniques and Association of Visual Risk Factors With At-Fault Crashes and Near Crashes by Older Drivers With Vision Impairment." JAMA Ophthalmology. 139(6):639-645. 29 April 2021. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2021.0862