A Randomized Controlled Trial on Automated Vehicle Technologies for Drivers With Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) negatively affects driver fitness. Few studies document the benefits of in-vehicle information systems (IVIS) and advanced-driver assistance systems (ADAS), the focus of this study, for drivers with PD. This study quantified the impact of IVIS and ADAS on the number of on-road driving errors. Drivers with PD (N = 107) drove a vehicle equipped with IVIS and ADAS in traffic. The activation of IVIS and ADAS resulted in fewer driver errors. Specifically, adaptive cruise control reduced the number of speeding errors on the highway. Bradykinesia correlated with driving errors with deactivated systems. Memory impairments correlated with the total number of driving errors with activated systems. Impairments in executive function and visuospatial ability were associated with more errors during system deactivation. IVIS and ADAS reduced the total number of driving errors for PD drivers; ameliorated effects of individual variations; but memory declines posed a challenge while using these technologies.

Plain Language Summary

A randomized controlled trial study of self-driving in-vehicle technologies on driver fitness for people with Parkinson’s disease

This study investigated the effects of in-vehicle information systems (IVIS) and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) on the driver fitness of individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Notably, 107 drivers with PD drove a vehicle equipped with IVIS and ADAS. The results showed that activating these systems led to fewer speeding errors on the highway. The study identified correlations between bradykinesia, executive function, visuospatial ability, and increased errors with deactivated systems, where memory impairments correlated with increased driving errors during system activation. Although IVIS and ADAS had a positive overall effect, challenges related to memory decline existed when these technologies were in use.

Keywords

Parkinson’s disease automated in-vehicle technologies on-road driving errors driver rehabilitation

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