RESUMO
BACKGROUND.: Driver confidence can be measured through concepts such as driving frequency, situational avoidance, and self-perceptions. However, it is not clear how well confidence aligns with actual driving performance. PURPOSE.: We examined the relationship between subjective measures of confidence in driving ability and on-road performance. METHOD.: We report findings from two studies. The first compared scores from the Older and Wiser Driver Questionnaire to an on-road driving evaluation. The second looked at the Day and Night Driving Comfort Scales and Driving Habits and Intentions Questionnaire in relation to an on-road driving evaluation. FINDINGS.: No measures of confidence in driving ability were related to on-road driving performance. IMPLICATIONS.: Confidence in driving ability bears little relationship to on-road performance. Future research should examine approaches to foster a better match between self-assessments and actual abilities among drivers.
RESUMO
We examined whether participants who failed to complete a simulated drive because of simulator sickness (dropouts) differed from those who completed the simulation (completers). Thirteen healthy older adult dropouts (mean age = 74.8 yr) and 12 comparable completers were compared on the following variables: on-road driving performance, the Useful Field of View test, the Attention Network Test, and the Trail Making Test Part A. Results showed that completers scored more demerit points during the on-road drive than did dropouts. In addition, only 1 of 13 comparisons based on participants' cognition was statistically significant. These results suggest that in healthy senior drivers, simulator sickness does not prevent examination of those who need it most (i.e., those with the poorest on-road driving performance) and that cognitive differences are not associated with dropping out because of simulator sickness.