Visual Scanning Training for Older Drivers: A Literature Review

Lococo, Kathy H.; Staplin, Loren · 2018 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This literature review, conducted by Lococo and Staplin for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, examines age-related declines in visual scanning abilities and evaluates training interventions designed to mitigate these deficits in older drivers. The study was motivated by exposure-based analyses showing increased crash risk for drivers in their 70s and 80s, particularly in high-demand situations like intersections and merging, which require rapid visual search and attention switching. The review updates previous findings by analyzing 27 studies published between 2005 and 2016 across four categories: age differences in visual attention, age differences in driving scanning behavior, in-context driving training, and out-of-context cognitive training. The review synthesizes evidence indicating that older adults experience significant declines in selective and divided attention, often characterized by "sticky attention" or difficulty disengaging visual focus from a current locus. Laboratory studies reveal that while older drivers may not have a constricted attentional breadth, they exhibit slower reaction times when shifting attention, particularly under time pressure or when processing cluttered visual fields. On-road and simulator studies confirm that older drivers scan less frequently to the left and right, focusing more on their intended path, which correlates with higher rates of angle crashes and "looked but did not see" incidents. Additionally, older drivers check mirrors and blind spots less often during lane changes and are more likely to run red lights if they have a narrowed vertical attentional visual field. Regarding interventions, the review highlights that training programs operating within a driving context show more promise for improving actual driving performance than those targeting basic cognitive functions in isolation. Eight studies evaluated training specifically for older drivers, utilizing driving simulators, video-based protocols, and occupational therapist-led sessions. While computerized cognitive training often improves performance on specific tasks, evidence of transfer to real-world driving is mixed. However, programs that capture the complexities of driving and target specific skills like attention switching and visual search demonstrate potential for reducing driving errors. The authors conclude that remediation strategies should focus on training attention disengagement and scanning behaviors, as these deficits are linked to specific crash risks and may be amenable to improvement through targeted, context-specific education.

Key finding

Older drivers demonstrate significant deficits in attentional disengagement and scan intersections and blind spots less frequently than younger drivers, leading to increased crash risk in complex visual environments.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• useful field of view
• hazard perception training
• eye movements scanning
• peripheral attention
• hazard perception
• older driver retraining

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: behavioral performance data
• Methodological Resource: measurement protocol, tool software