Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34549096›Full record

ArticleInnovation in aging2021

Left Turns by Older Drivers With Vision Impairment: A Naturalistic Driving Study.

Thomas A Swain, Gerald McGwin, Jonathan F Antin, Joanne M Wood, Cynthia Owsley

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Innovation in aging, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Evaluation of Functional Impacts of Vision Impairment: Progress, Challenges and Future Directions.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Hard braking events in bioptic drivers with central vision impairment.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2025
    Article
  4. Older Drivers Reduced Engagement in Distracting Behaviors Over a Six-Year Period: Findings From the Candrive Longitudinal Study.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2024
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Thomas A SwainDepartment of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Gerald McGwinDepartment of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Jonathan F AntinVulnerable Road User Safety, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
Joanne M WoodCentre for Vision and Eye Research, School of Optometry and Vision Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Cynthia OwsleyDepartment of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3424-011X

Funding

Visual Phenotyping CoreP30EY003039 · NEI · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · PI LAWRENCE C SINCICH · 1985 to 2026
$16.9M
NEI NIH HHS P30 EY003039
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesOlder drivers are overrepresented in collisions at intersections while making left turns across oncoming traffic. Using naturalistic driving methods, we evaluated the association between vision impairment and their left-turn characteristics. RESEARCH DESIGN AND

methodsIn this prospective, observational study, vision impairment as defined by visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual processing speed, visual field sensitivity, and motion perception was assessed in drivers ≥70 years old. Data acquisition systems were installed in their personal vehicles recording video and vehicle kinematics. Driving during everyday life was recorded for 6 months. Data analysts evaluated a temporal data window surrounding randomly selected left turns at 4-way intersections. Left-turn traversals and turning behavior were evaluated in terms of age-adjusted associations with vision impairment.

resultsThe sample consisted of 151 older drivers. The number of turns studied was 473; 265 turns were rated as unsafe traversals, and 201 as problematic turning behavior. Drivers with slowed visual processing speed and visual field impairment were less likely to exhibit unsafe traversals ( DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Using naturalistic driving, our study suggests older drivers with vision impairment exhibit better performance in making left turns than those without deficits, which contradicts older driver studies on left turns using driving simulators and on-road driving evaluations. Our findings suggest more cautious and self-regulatory behavior, which are consistent with older visually impaired drivers' commonly expressed concerns about their driving difficulties.

Indexed as

CognitionDrivingVision

Identifiers

PMID34549096
PMCPMC8448425

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.