The effect of age on gaze behavior in drivers and pedestrians – a review

Abstract

Gaze behavior can play an important role in the safety of both older drivers and older pedestrians, and therefore evidence-based knowledge related to gaze behavior in the older population should be communicated to those professionals who regularly work with this group. A review of 25 studies examining the effect of age on gaze behavior in drivers and pedestrians was conducted. A number of differences in gaze behavior in older and younger drivers and pedestrians are observed, among them (a) when changing lanes, older drivers do not glance as frequently as younger drivers at three important areas – the rear view mirror, the left side mirror, and the left blind spot, and (b) older drivers have a smaller horizontal gaze amplitude compared to younger drivers. Several methodological concerns were observed, among them: a scarcity of data on gaze behavior and elderly pedestrians and a lack of intervention studies. Additional studies should examine the use of a vision-in-action paradigm and designated gaze-training interventions in both the elderly driver and elderly pedestrian populations, in order to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents and pedestrian injuries among the older population