Age Differences in the Useful Field of View in a Part-Task Driving Simulator

This study investigated age-related differences in the useful field of view (UFOV) using a part-task driving simulator. Thirty-six licensed drivers, aged 20-25, 40-45, and 65-70, participated. Dynamic roadway images were projected on screens to the front and sides of the driver. Target stimuli consisted of full-size simplified images of a van moving forward on the side screens at a speed below the motion threshold. Subjects performed forward view tracking and cognitive tasks while responding to the van stimuli on the side screens. Increased levels of the forward view task load adversely affected response times to the vans for the older group only, but performance of the tracking task declined for all age groups with increased load.