Car Driving Performance in Hemianopia: An On-Road Driving Study

Gera A. De Haan*, Bart J. M. Melis-Dankers, Wiebo H. Brouwer, Ruud A. Bredewoud, Oliver Tucha, Joost Heutink

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

PURPOSE. To study driving performance in people with homonymous hemianopia (HH) assessed in the official on-road test of practical fitness to drive by the Dutch driver's licensing authority (CBR).

METHODS. Data were collected from a cohort (January 2010-July 2012) of all people with HH following the official relicensure trajectory at Royal Dutch Visio and the CBR in the Netherlands. Driving performance during the official on-road tests of practical fitness to drive was scored by professional experts on practical fitness to drive, using the visual impairments protocol and a standardized scoring of visual, tactical and operational aspects. Age ranged from 27 to 72 years (mean = 52, SD = 11.7) and time since onset of the visual field defect ranged from 6 to 41 months (mean = 15, SD = 7.5).

RESULTS. Fourteen (54%) participants were judged as fit to drive. Besides poor visual scanning during driving, specific tactical, and operational weaknesses were observed in people with HH that were evaluated as unfit to drive. Results suggest that judgement on practical fitness to drive cannot be based on solely the visual field size. Visual scanning and operational handling of the car were found to be more impaired with longer time not driven, while such an effect was not found for tactical choices during driving.

CONCLUSIONS. Training programs aimed at improving practical fitness to drive in people with HH should focus on improving both visual scanning, as well as driving aspects such as steering stability, speed adaptation, and anticipating environmental changes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6482-6489
Number of pages8
JournalInvestigative ophthalmology & visual science
Volume55
Issue number10
Early online date11-Sept-2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14-Oct-2014

Keywords

  • hemianopia
  • visual field defects
  • driving
  • patient safety
  • VISUAL-FIELD DEFECTS
  • QUADRANTANOPIA
  • STROKE
  • PEOPLE

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