Toward a Driving Competency Assessment Encouraging Elderly\u27s Automobility: A French Point of View

The purpose of this paper is to suggest a methodology for approaching French elderly driver assessments. More precisely, the objective is to evaluate the impact of visual and cognitive declines in older drivers on real road driving performances. A case control study was conducted with 40 senior drivers (aged between 61 to 80 years old) recruited via their insurance company: 20 case volunteers who had caused 3 or more accidents during a three-year period and 20 control volunteers who had caused no accidents during the same period. The experiment consisted of non-driving laboratory tests, including visual and cognitive tests, and a driving assessment in a real traffic situation. Results showed that, compared to the control group, elderly drivers with a history of accidents, have poorer performance on the cognitive tests. Moreover, data from the multiple regression analysis showed that the two measures entering the model were Zazzo time and movement perception (age and group being controlled). Some considerations that shape construction of a driving assessment are discussed. We discuss the fact that such an approach can be used to estimate the driving skills of drivers, not to deliver an aptitude or inaptitude certificate, but to adapt the advice given to drivers

Alleviating Simulator Sickness with Galvanic Cutaneous Stimulation

[EN]Objective: In a driving simulation, we investigated the efficacy of galvanic cutaneous stimulation (GCS) provided during curves or intermittently during the whole circuit to mitigate simulator syndrome (SS). Background: The literature on how GCS decreases SS, although scarce, has demonstrated the effectiveness of this technique. Stimulation with this and similar techniques has usually been provided in curves or continuously dur ing the whole circuit but never intermittently. This stimu lation method could generate a continued activation of processes related to GCS mitigating SS. Method: Fifteen drivers (8 men; mean age = 25.5 years) participated in this experiment. We compared the total scores of the Simulator Sickness Question naire (SSQ) across three stimulation conditions: (a) curve GCS condition, whereby GCS was provided in curves; (b) intermittent GCS condition, whereby GCS was provided intermittently during the whole circuit; and (c) no-stimulation condition, whereby no stimula tion was provided (baseline condition). Results: The experimental outcomes revealed that GCS decreased SS in both the curve and intermittent stimulation conditions. Conclusion: We provide evidence that GCS is an effective countermeasure to decrease SS. It could be applied indifferently in curves or intermittently during the whole circuit. Application: For future interventions, we recom mend the use of GCS to mitigate SS with similar intermit tent stimulation programs. These programs have a crucial advantage as they are easily integrated into the simulator setup without the necessity of generating a complicated experimental design to stimulate during the curves

Older drivers' self-regulation: discrepancy reduction or region of proximal learning?

We examined older adults' self-regulation within the region of proximal learning (RPL) framework. Younger and older drivers completed four circuits of increasing difficulty in a driving simulator and were then given a limited amount of time to train for a test. While older drivers chose to train on easier circuits than younger ones, both age groups focused on the easier circuits first, only moving to the more difficult ones later. They were thus equally able to identify their RPL. This framework appears to apply beyond the obvious scope of metamemory and provides a behavioral assessment of self-regulation in driving settings

Effectiveness of two cognitive training programs on the performance of older drivers with a cognitive self-assessment bias

Purpose: Depending on the calibration of their cognitive abilities, some older drivers (ODs) might stop driving prematurely (under-estimators, UEs) and others could expose themselves to risky situations (over-estimators, OEs). The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of two cognitive training (CT) programs intended for ODs presenting a cognitive calibration bias. We hypothesized that CT with feedback on performance can help ODs to correctly calibrate their abilities and consequently adapt their driving behavior.Method: One hundred and six ODs (≥70 years) were assigned to two CT groups (with or without a driving simulator experience, DS). These interventions lasted about 36 h and were distributed over a 3-month period. ODs completed objective and subjective cognitive evaluations and an on-road driving evaluation before and after training.Results: The first results on 67 participants (40 from the CT group, and 27 from the CT + DS group) showed an improvement of their visual processing speed, their divided attention and their selective attention after training. Participants from both groups also had an improved TRIP tactical sub-score (Test Ride for Investigating Practical fitness to drive), indicating a better driving behavioral adaptation. Finally, although both training programs seemed to be equally effective in correcting cognitive calibration bias, the results indicated that 21 UEs and 10 OEs were well calibrated and thus correctly self-assessed their cognitive abilities after training.Conclusion: Both CT programs (with or without DS experience) seem to improve the visual attention of ODs. UEs appeared to be more susceptible than OEs to this training and were better calibrated after it. Document type: Articl

Influence of Prior Use of the Same or Different Effectors in a Reaching Action

[EN]Use of diff erent eff ectors in two consecutive actions could generate an attentional shift between the eff ectors with shorter latencies in the second action of reaching. 18 participants (10 men; M age = 21.3 yr.) participated in an experiment with two main variables: (1) eff ector switching with two levels (Switching and No Switching), where the participants use or do not use a diff erent motor eff ector for each action; (2) lifting muscles, i.e., the muscles involved in the fi rst phase of the reaching, with two levels (fi nger-lifting muscle and palm-lifting muscle). Premotor time, Motor time, Reaction time, Movement time, and Total time were measured. For Premotor, Movement, and Total times, faster responses were observed when there was no switching of the eff ector. This delay could be due to an attentional shift between motor eff ectors and its relations with motor processes. Possible applica tions include the ergonomic design of device controls, considering that the use of the same eff ector is benefi cial when fast reaction times are sought.Project PSI2009-1187

Dynamic scan paths investigations under manual and highly automated driving

Active visual scanning of the scene is a key task-element in all forms of human locomotion. In the field of driving, steering (lateral control) and speed adjustments (longitudinal control) models are largely based on drivers’ visual inputs. Despite knowledge gained on gaze behaviour behind the wheel, our understanding of the sequential aspects of the gaze strategies that actively sample that input remains restricted. Here, we apply scan path analysis to investigate sequences of visual scanning in manual and highly automated simulated driving. Five stereotypical visual sequences were identified under manual driving: forward polling (i.e. far road explorations), guidance, backwards polling (i.e. near road explorations), scenery and speed monitoring scan paths. Previously undocumented backwards polling scan paths were the most frequent. Under highly automated driving backwards polling scan paths relative frequency decreased, guidance scan paths relative frequency increased, and automation supervision specific scan paths appeared. The results shed new light on the gaze patterns engaged while driving. Methodological and empirical questions for future studies are discussed.Active visual scanning of the scene is a key task-element in all forms of human locomotion. In the field of driving, steering (lateral control) and speed adjustments (longitudinal control) models are largely based on drivers’ visual inputs. Despite knowledge gained on gaze behaviour behind the wheel, our understanding of the sequential aspects of the gaze strategies that actively sample that input remains restricted. Here, we apply scan path analysis to investigate sequences of visual scanning in manual and highly automated simulated driving. Five stereotypical visual sequences were identified under manual driving: forward polling (i.e. far road explorations), guidance, backwards polling (i.e. near road explorations), scenery and speed monitoring scan paths. Previously undocumented backwards polling scan paths were the most frequent. Under highly automated driving backwards polling scan paths relative frequency decreased, guidance scan paths relative frequency increased, and automation supervision specific scan paths appeared. The results shed new light on the gaze patterns engaged while driving. Methodological and empirical questions for future studies are discussed.Peer reviewe

Determination of cognitive workload variation in driving from ECG derived respiratory signal and heart rate

2nd International Neuroergonomics Conference, PHILADELPHIE, ETATS-UNIS, 27-/06/2018 - 29/06/2018Research works on operator monitoring underline the benefit of taking into consideration several signal modalities to improve accuracy for an objective mental state diagnosis. Heart rate (HR) is one of the most utilized systemic measures to assess cognitive workload (CW), whereas respiration parameters are hardly utilized. This study aims at verifying the contribution of analyzing respiratory signals to extract features to evaluate driver's activity and CW variations in driving with regard to cardiac activity. Eighteen subjects participated in the study. The participants carried out two different cognitive tasks requiring different CW demands, a single task as well as a competing cognitive task realized while driving in a simulator. Our results confirm that both HR and breathing rate (BR) increase in driving and are sensitive to CW. However, HR and BR are differently modulated by the CW variations in driving. Specifically, BR is suitable to evidence a variation of CW when driving is not required. On the other hand, spectral features characterizing respiratory signal could be also used similarly to HR variability indices to detect high CW episodes. These results hint the use of respiration to monitor the driver mental state in autonomic vehicles in order to predict the available cognitive resources if the user has to take over the vehicle

Respiration and Heart Rate Modulation Due to Competing Cognitive Tasks While Driving

Research works on operator monitoring underline the benefit of taking into consideration several signal modalities to improve accuracy for an objective mental state diagnosis. Heart rate (HR) is one of the most utilized systemic measures to assess cognitive workload (CW), whereas, respiration parameters are hardly utilized. This study aims at verifying the contribution of analyzing respiratory signals to extract features to evaluate driver’s activity and CW variations in driving. Eighteen subjects participated in the study. The participants carried out two different cognitive tasks requiring different CW demands, a single task as well as a competing cognitive task realized while driving in a simulator. Our results confirm that both HR and breathing rate (BR) increase in driving and are sensitive to CW. However, HR and BR are differently modulated by the CW variations in driving. Specifically, HR is affected by both driving activity and CW, whereas, BR is suitable to evidence a variation of CW only when driving is not required. On the other hand, spectral features characterizing respiratory signal could be also used similarly to HR variability indices to detect high CW episodes. These results hint the use of respiration as an alternative to HR to monitor the driver mental state in autonomic vehicles in order to predict the available cognitive resources if the user has to take over the vehicle

Mind wandering and driving: a responsibility case-control study

Objective To assess the association between mind wandering (i.e. thinking unrelated to the task at hand) and the risk of being responsible for the crash. Design Responsibility case-control study. Setting Adult emergency department of the Bordeaux University hospital (France) from April 2010 to August 2011. Participants 955 injured drivers presenting as a result of motor vehicle crash. Main outcome measures The main outcome variable was responsibility for the crash. Exposures were mind wandering, external distraction, negative affect, alcohol use, psychotropic medicine use, and sleep deprivation. Potential confounders were sociodemographic and crash characteristics. Results Beyond classical risk factors found to be associated with responsibility, the results showed that intense mind wandering was associated with being responsible for a crash (17% [responsible] vs. 9% [not responsible]; adjusted OR [95% CI]=2.12 [1.37-3.28]). Conclusions Mind wandering while driving, by decoupling attention from visual and auditory perceptions, may jeopardize the ability of the driver to incorporate information from the environment, thereby threatening safety on the roads. Our findings provide support for the latest research designed to develop systems to detect periods of driving vulnerability related to inattention. In addition, further research is recommended to assess how these results could lead to innovative interventions such as attentional training for drivers at risk of inattention

Évaluation de la performance de conduite et mise en évidence d'adaptation comportementale auprès des conducteurs âgés. In : Aptitudes visuelles : l'oeil sain, l'oeil opéré, l'oeil pathologique. Zanlonghi, X. and Quinton-Fantoni, S.

La question de l'évaluation de l'aptitude ou de l'inaptitude à la conduite est une question difficile car l'activité de conduite automobile est une activité complexe au cours de laquelle différentes régulations comportementales peuvent opérer et il est difficile d'évaluer, avec des outils suffisamment sensibles et spécifiques, l'adéquation entre l'état de santé du conducteur et l'activité de conduite qu'il mène. Comme le souligne de nombreux auteurs, aucun test visuel simple ni aucune combinaison de tests visuels n'ont permis d'identifier des individus en sur-risque d'accident sans entrainer également la disqualification d'un nombre important de conducteurs potentiellement sûres. Cet article souligne les défis de l'évaluation de l'aptitude à la conduite