Age-related difference in steering control under reduced visibility conditions

The current study investigated age-related differences in a steering control task under low visibility conditions. Younger and older drivers were presented with displays simulating forward vehicle motion through a 3D scene of random dots on a ground plane. The lateral position of the vehicle was perturbed by a simulated side wind gust according to a sum of sinusoidal functions. The drivers’ task was to steer the vehicle to maintain a straight path. The visibility of the driving scene was reduced by reducing the quantity and the quality of the optical flow field. We found that performance decreased when visibility was reduced for both older and younger drivers, with better performance for younger drivers as compared with older drivers. An age-related interaction was also found with deteriorated optical flow information. These results suggest that under reduced visibility conditions, older drivers may have increased accident risks due to decreased ability to successfully steer the vehicle.

► We examined age-related decrements in steering control under low visibility. ► Both quantity and quality of optical flow information were manipulated. ► Older drivers showed decreased performance under low visibility conditions. ► The quantity is more important in processing optical flow for older drivers.