Research on Assessing Driving Ability of Older Drivers Based on Cognitive Tests: A Case Study of Beijing, China

Abstract

Research on cognitive tests for older drivers will contribute to accurately identifying unsafe drivers and decreasing the risk that older drivers pose to themselves and other roadway users. This study aims to design and evaluate a comprehensive cognitive test, including memory, reaction and judgment ability tests. A total of 72 drivers from Beijing, China, were recruited in 2020 to participate in these cognitive tests to obtain detailed test information on the recorded response time and accuracy. A one-way ANOVA test was proposed to examine the significance among different age and crash record groups. The comprehensive cognitive test was proved effective in judging the at-risk older drivers, where 96.7% of the safe young group and 100% of the safe older group passed the test, and 89.5% of the at-risk older group failed the test. The study clarified the efficiency and accuracy of each question as well as the whole test. It also confirmed that driving ability decreased with the increase in age. According to the obtained comprehensive cognitive test, it provided a scientific method basis for standardizing the management of the older drivers with a license, so as to guide the older drivers to understand traffic elements and rules.