Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Increase in the number of elderly drivers is causing social problems such as increase in the risk of traffic accident due to decline in their driving performance ability by senility. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of application of VR-based driving simulator on the speed of vision-motor-physical responses for safe driving of the elderly. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Subjects of the study were 11 elderly over the age of 65 who can respond to neuropsychological test tools. The tools used to test the speed of cognitive ability and vision-motorphysical responses were 1) Motor-free visual perception test (MVPT) 2) Reaction Time Test 3) Trail-Making Test A and 4) Trail-Making Test B. Simulated driving training was conducted by using VR-based driving simulator and, before and after the training, evaluations were performed on the speed of vision-motor-physical responses. Findings: As the result of performing the evaluation on the speed of vision-motor-physical responses on 11 elderly who received VR-based driving simulator training by using Motor-Free Visual Perception Test, Reaction-Time Test and Trail-Marking Test A and B, there were statistically significant differences (P.05). Application/Improvements: Simulated driving training using VR-based driving simulator enhanced the speed of vision-motor-physical responses required for driving performance. Therefore, VR-based driving simulator training can be effectively used as an intervention tool for safe driving of the elderly.
Keywords: Driving Simulator Training, Elderly,Response Speed