Recording and automated analysis of naturalistic bioptic driving

Abstract

Purpose-People with moderate central vision loss are legally permitted to drive with a bioptic telescope in 39 US states and the Netherlands, but the safety of bioptic driving remains highly controversial. There is no scientific evidence about bioptic use and its impact on safety. We propose searching for evidence by recording naturalistic driving activities in patients' cars.Methods-In a pilot study we used an analogue video system to record two bioptic drivers' daily driving activities for 10 and 5 days, respectively. In this technical report, we also describe our novel digital system that collects vehicle maneuver information and enables recording over more extended periods, and discuss our approach to analyzing the vast amount of data.Results-Our observations of telescope use by the pilot subjects were quite different from their reports in a previous survey. One subject used the telescope only 7 times in nearly 6 hours of driving. For the other subject, the average interval between telescope use was about 2 minutes, and cell phone use in one trip extended the interval to almost 5 minutes. We demonstrate that computerized analysis of lengthy recordings based on video, GPS, acceleration, and black box data can be used to select informative segments for efficient off-line review of naturalistic driving behaviors. Conclusions-The inconsistency between self reports and objective data as well as infrequent telescope use underscores the importance of recording bioptic driving behaviors in naturalistic conditions over extended periods. We argue that the new recording system is important for understanding bioptic use behaviors and bioptic driving safety.

A roadmap for interpreting the literature on vision and driving

“…However there have only been a handful of publications to date using naturalistic driving data to focus on the relationship between vision, vision impairment, and driving. 7, 19, 64, 71, 73, 90, 135, 138 Yet with the continuing technological advances in the design and miniaturization of recording instruments and the advantages of naturalistic methods for understanding the visual mechanisms underlying driving, this field is expected to blossom over the next decade.…”

Characteristics of On-Road Driving Performance of Persons With Central Vision Loss Who Use Bioptic Telescopes

“…More recently, the naturalistic driving of two bioptic drivers was recorded using an analogue video recording system over a number of days. 11 As these two drivers also participated in the previously reported survey, 10 it was possible to compare self-reported behavior with objective measures, which revealed that the actual use of the bioptic telescope was less than had been self-reported. 11 The paucity of research on bioptic driving means there is little scientific basis underlying the design of bioptic driving programs, including how to set the visual requirements and determine what kinds of restrictions (if any) are likely to facilitate driver safety in this population.…”

“…11 As these two drivers also participated in the previously reported survey, 10 it was possible to compare self-reported behavior with objective measures, which revealed that the actual use of the bioptic telescope was less than had been self-reported. 11 The paucity of research on bioptic driving means there is little scientific basis underlying the design of bioptic driving programs, including how to set the visual requirements and determine what kinds of restrictions (if any) are likely to facilitate driver safety in this population. This is problematic, Copyright 2013 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc. www.iovs.org j ISSN: given that lack of driving licensure is associated with reduced employment options and has economic and social ramifications.…”

Driving with Bioptic Telescopes

“…No comprehensive investigations to date have video recorded bioptic drivers behind the wheel and then analyzed the video to determine for example, how frequently they “dip” the telescope, under what conditions, and what points in space they direct it towards. Measurement techniques have been described for video-recording bioptic drivers and for measuring telescope aiming, 48,49 which may assist in addressing these types of questions in future research. There are some who have suggested that bioptic telescopes are not primarily used by visually impaired persons for on-road driving but are principally used to pass the visual acuity screening test when applying for licensure, and then are not used once the driver is licensed and on the road without a rehabilitation specialist in the vehicle monitoring his/her behavior.…”