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Previous Driving Experience, but Not Vision, Is Associated With Motor Vehicle Collision Rate in Bioptic Drivers
Bradley E Dougherty1, Roanne E Flom1, Mark A Bullimore2
1The Ohio State University College of Optometry Columbus, Ohio, United States.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|October 6, 2015
Summary
Previous driving experience is key for bioptic drivers, not visual acuity. Drivers without prior experience had more motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), but their accident rate decreased over time.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Optometry
- Traffic Safety
Background:
- Bioptic telescopic spectacles (BTS) aid individuals with low vision.
- Over 40 states permit bioptic driving licenses for those with reduced central vision.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate associations between driving history, visual function, and motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) in Ohio bioptic drivers.
- To identify factors influencing MVC risk among bioptic drivers.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of bioptic drivers licensed in Ohio.
- Utilized Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles data for MVC records.
- Employed time-to-event analysis and Cox regression to assess relationships between vision, experience, and MVCs.
Main Results:
- 237 bioptic drivers studied; 52% had at least one MVC.
- Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity did not predict MVC involvement.
- Drivers lacking prior experience were significantly more prone to MVCs (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Prior non-bioptic driving experience, not visual acuity, correlated with MVC rates in bioptic drivers.
- The risk of MVCs for inexperienced bioptic drivers diminished over a decade.
