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Vision Screening for Motor Vehicle Collision Involvement among Older Drivers
Gerald McGwin1, Cynthia Owsley2
1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Ophthalmology
|April 28, 2022
Summary
Vision screening tests for older drivers showed poor performance in predicting motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). Alternative safety strategies are recommended over vision screening to avoid negative impacts on mobility and mental health.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Gerontology
- Traffic Safety
Background:
- Older drivers (70+) are a growing demographic.
- Assessing visual function is crucial for driving safety.
- Current screening methods for visual impairment and driving risk need evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the association between visual functions and motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) in older drivers.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of visual function tests as screening tools for MVCs.
- To analyze the predictive performance of various visual measures for driving accidents.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study involving 2000 licensed drivers aged 70+.
- Baseline measurements included visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, useful field of view, and visual field sensitivity.
- Participants were followed for up to 4 years to record MVC involvement, with statistical analysis using Poisson regression and AUC calculations.
Main Results:
- Visual function measures showed limited ability to predict MVCs, with Area Under the Curve (AUC) values slightly above 0.50.
- No single measure achieved adequate sensitivity and specificity (>80%) for screening.
- Weak, though statistically significant, associations were found between vision impairment and MVCs for most measures, excluding visual acuity.
Conclusions:
- Vision screening alone is insufficient for predicting MVC risk in older drivers.
- The potential negative consequences of driving cessation (mobility, mental health) may outweigh the safety benefits of vision screening.
- Alternative strategies focusing on overall older driver safety should be explored.
