Calibration in Older and Middle-aged Drivers: Relationship between Subjective and Objective Glance Performance at Complex Intersections

Abstract

Older drivers are an at-risk population for automobile crashes, especially at intersections. Intersection maneuvers demand a series of motor and visual responses executed at specific proximities and timings during a turn. Previous research indicates that older drivers are more likely than middle-aged drivers to neglect anticipatory glances to areas where latent hazards could materialize at intersections. Calibration, which reflects the degree of agreement (or discordance) between a driver’s self-perception of their driving ability and their actual ability, might be a factor that drives the age-related differences in visual scanning at intersections. This study examined relationships between eye movement patterns while driving through intersection scenarios in a medium-fidelity simulator and their subjective performance scores for middle-aged and older drivers. The data indicated no difference in calibration scores between older and middle-aged drivers. However, data showed that older drivers with higher subjective performance executed fewer secondary glances: this pattern was not present for middle aged drivers. Further research is necessary to identify psychological mechanisms involving driver calibration that control the age-related declines in anticipatory glance behavior at intersections.