Normative Values for Driving Simulation Parameters: A Pilot Study

Akinwuntan, Abiodun Emmanuel; Tank, Rebecca; Vaughn, Lori; Wilburn, Alexis; Easton, Seth · 2009 · Crossref

DOI: 10.17077/drivingassessment.1317

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

Get this paper ↗ (DOI — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)

Summary

This pilot study aimed to establish normative values for driving simulation parameters across three age groups: younger (18–24 years), middle-aged (25–64 years), and older (65+ years) drivers. The research was motivated by the need for standardized benchmarks to better evaluate driving deficits in clinical populations, such as those with neurological impairments or age-related decline. By defining baseline performance metrics for healthy drivers, the authors sought to enhance the interpretation of simulator-based assessments and guide future development of standardized testing scenarios. The study utilized a STISIM Model 300 driving simulator housed in a stationary sedan. Participants were healthy individuals with valid licenses, at least two years of driving experience, and no significant neurological, physical, or visual impairments. After screening via comprehensive questionnaires and cognitive tests, 130 participants completed a 9.5-mile urban route scenario to assess lane tracking, time to collision (TTC), speed compliance, and run time. A subset of 120 participants also completed a 1.5-mile scenario involving sudden 'STOP' signs to measure simple reaction time components (seeing, movement, braking, and total reaction time). Additionally, 15 participants returned 60–90 days later to assess test-retest reliability. Results indicated that age was the strongest predictor of driving performance. Older drivers exhibited significantly worse performance in several key areas compared to younger and middle-aged drivers. Specifically, older drivers had significantly more road edge excursions, longer times to collision with lead vehicles, and longer run times to complete the route. In the reaction time task, older drivers demonstrated significantly longer "seeing times" (time to lift foot from the accelerator), suggesting slower mental processing or motor initiation. However, overall total reaction times were similar across all age groups, likely because older drivers compensated for slower processing by driving more cautiously and adhering more strictly to speed limits. Test-retest reliability was moderate to very high for most parameters, with the exception of road edge excursions, which showed low reliability. The findings confirm that driving skills deteriorate with age, particularly in lane keeping and processing speed, but also highlight compensatory strategies employed by older drivers, such as maintaining greater following distances and lower speeds. The established normative values provide a baseline for identifying at-risk drivers in clinical settings. The study acknowledges limitations, including sample size disparities between age groups and the lack of complex, unpredictable events in the simulation scenarios. Future research aims to address these gaps to further refine standardized driving assessment tools.

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed.

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-26; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• older drivers
• older driver retraining
• age related perceptual decline

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Methodological Resource: validation psychometrics, tool software
• Theoretical Contribution: computational model