Speed management across road environments of varying complexities and self‑regulation behaviors in drivers with cataract

Abstract

Evidence suggests that drivers with cataract self-regulate their driving, but there is a lack of objective information. This study compared speed behavior in older drivers with and without cataract and how the parameter is influenced by road traffic complexity and driver characteristics. The study included 15 drivers with cataract and a control group of 20 drivers. Visual status was assessed using visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and intraocular straylight. Speed management was studied using a driving simulator. Driving difficulty and self-regulation patterns were evaluated by means of the Driver Habits Questionnaire (DHQ). The cataract group showed a significant decrease in visual function in all the parameters evaluated (p < 0.05). These drivers tended to drive at lower speeds than the control group. Road characteristics, gender, and intraocular straylight in the better eye were identified as significant predictors of speed management. Drivers with cataract experience greater driving difficulty, particularly when driving at night (p < 0.05). Drivers with cataract reduce their driving speed more than older drivers without visual impairment. The straylight parameter may be a good indicator of each driver’s subjective perception of their own visual ability to drive. This work helps shed light on the mechanisms through which age-related visual impairment influences driving behavior.