Scientific Publications Database
Article Title: Driving Destination Measures in Older Adult Drivers with Differing Health StatusesAuthors: Howcroft, Jennifer; Wallace, Bruce; Goubran, Rafik; Marshall, Shawn; Porter, Michelle M.; Knoefel, Frank
Journal: 2018 IEEE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON MEDICAL MEASUREMENTS AND APPLICATIONS (MEMEA) Volume
Date of Publication:2018
Abstract:
Older adult drivers experience age-related health declines that can negatively impact driving performance and lead to driver license revocation. The investigation and measurement of naturalistic in-car driving behavior can be used to evaluate driving behaviors, including aspects of route planning like driving destinations, for health-related changes. This study examined GPS-based measures related to driving destinations for older adult drivers with differing health statuses. Driving destination measures related to frequency of travel to destinations and distance from home were investigated in a convenience sample of five older adult drivers with better physical and cognitive health and five older adults with poorer physical and cognitive health. All drivers had at least two years of driving data. Drivers with worse health status had higher frequency of travel to unique destinations and reduced frequency of travel to destinations greater than 20 km from home compared to drivers with better health status. Drivers with worse health status may have driven more frequently to the same destinations due to inefficiency in trip planning, intentional trip simplification, forgetfulness, or increased travel to medical-related destinations. Similarly, drivers with worse health status may have limited their driving to destinations greater than 20 km from home due to physical limitations or increased complexity of route and trip planning. Further investigation is warranted to examine longitudinal health status changes, particularly cognitive changes, trip chaining, and route characteristics.