Comparison of Driving Performance of Young and Old Drivers (with and without Visual Impairment) Measured during In‐Traffic Conditions

Purpose. The aim of this study was to determine whether visual impairment and age affected driver performance and safety rated during in‐traffic driving conditions. Methods. Participants included 30 younger, 25 middle‐aged, and 35 older subjects with normal vision and 47 older subjects with visual impairment. All subjects were legally eligible to drive. Driving performance was assessed during in‐traffic conditions by a professional driving instructor and an occupational therapist using specific scoring criteria. Results. Group allocation significantly affected driving performance as assessed by the driving instructor and occupational therapist (p < 0.05). The driving instructor and occupational therapist scores were highly correlated (r = 0.76). Of the drivers who were scored as being unsafe, all were older and the majority (75%) had visual impairment. Discussion. Older drivers with or without visual impairment were rated as being less safe than the younger and middle‐aged drivers with normal vision.