One- and three-screen driving simulator approaches to evaluate driving capacity: evidence of congruence and participants' endorsement

Carrie Gibbons; Nadia Mullen; Bruce Weaver; Paula Reguly; Michel Bédard

doi:10.5014/ajot.2014.010322

One- and three-screen driving simulator approaches to evaluate driving capacity: evidence of congruence and participants' endorsement

Am J Occup Ther. 2014 May-Jun;68(3):344-52. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2014.010322.

Authors

Carrie Gibbons¹, Nadia Mullen², Bruce Weaver³, Paula Reguly⁴, Michel Bédard⁵

Affiliations

¹ Carrie Gibbons, MPH, is Research Coordinator, St. Joseph's Care Group, 580 Algoma Street North, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 5G4 Canada; gibbonsc@tbh.net.
² Nadia Mullen, PhD, is Research Associate, Centre for Research on Safe Driving, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario.
³ Bruce Weaver, MSc, is Research Associate, Centre for Research on Safe Driving, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, Human Sciences Division, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, West Campus, Thunder Bay, Ontario.
⁴ Paula Reguly, MPH, is Research Assistant, Department of Health Sciences, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario.
⁵ Michel Bédard, PhD, is Director, Centre for Research on Safe Driving, and Professor, Department of Health Sciences and Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and Scientific Director, St. Joseph's Care Group, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

PMID: 24797198
DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2014.010322

Abstract

Objective: We examined the validity of one-screen versus three-screen driving simulators and their acceptability to middle-aged and older drivers.

Method: Participants aged 40-55 or 65 and older (N = 32) completed simulated drives first with a single monitor and then with a three-monitor setup, followed by pen-and-paper measures and an interview.

Results: Mean differences between one- and three-screen drives were not statistically significant for Starting/Stopping and Passing/Speed. Correlations between the two drives indicated moderate positive linear relationships with moderate agreement. More errors occurred on the one-screen simulator for Signal Violation/Right of Way/Inattention, Moving in a Roadway, Turning, and Total Scores. However, for Moving in a Roadway, Turning, and Total Scores, correlations between drives indicated strong positive linear relationships. We found no meaningful correlation between workload, computer comfort, simulator discomfort, and performance on either drive. Participants found driving simulators acceptable.

Conclusion: Findings support the use of one-screen simulators. Participants were favorable regarding driving simulators for assessment.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Validation Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Attitude to Computers*
Automobile Driving / standards*
Computer Simulation*
Confidence Intervals
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Qualitative Research
Surveys and Questionnaires