The purpose of this study was to verify the efficacy of a PerceptualMotor
Competences Training Program upon the performance on UFOV of an
experimental active group of elderly drivers. Program tasks were conceived to
force subjects to divide their attention for central and peripheral stimuli, using a
visual strategy of gazing at an anchor-point and, from there, detect important clues
on peripheral visual field. For this purpose, almost all tasks were performed on
groups of two, being one responsible for testing the other and switching functions
from time to time (for instance, dropping one of two juggling handkerchiefs hold
apart, one in each tester hand, with the partner having to detect which was dropped
and react as quick as possible, catching it before it felt to the floor). We found a
significant improvement in the capacity of dividing attention for central and peripheral
stimuli under a visual environment full of distractors (selective attention UFOV
test) following the Program, as well as a significant reduction on the category of risk
(component based upon the three UFOV subtests results), which evidence very
clearly the benefits of this training program on the elderly experimental group and
its potential to reduce their risk of being involved in car accidents, on their fault, due
to perceptual reasons
