A Model of Driving Tests Battery Validation

A Model of Driving Tests Battery Validation MARKUS SOMMER, GERNOT SCHUHFRIEDâˆâ€", MIHAI ANIÃ…Â ¢EI, MIHAELA CHRAIFâˆâ€"âˆâ€" Abstract Designing a driving test battery is the most secure way to predict the driver behavior before  obtaining driver license. The objective is to design a psychological test battery to predict the driving  behavior of the potential drivers. The participants were 106 persons, both male and female, age  between 18 and 45 years old (M=34.4, 4; S.D. =1.32), different levels of education. The validity  criterion has been selected according the driving tasks during driving on the road. Thus, the value of  the test reveals the fact that the model has a strong predictive value for the chosen criteria. Key words: criteria, predictors, tachitoscopic test, determination test. 1. INTRODUCTION First studies in simulated task environments have shown that quite a large  part of the participants do not notice information that is not in accordance with  their expectations or when they do notice the information responses are delayed  (Martens, 2004; Martens Fox, 2003). This negative side of getting familiar with  a certain task environment might be the result of not spending enough time fixating  the objects in the task environment. But this decrease in fixation times to objects in  the task environment once people get familiar with the environment has only been  shown in computer-simulated environments. Drivers should question any driving skills test that does not include all the  test components as described in the appropriate study guide. In Table 1 can be seen  the required driving skills test components and the approximate time needed to  complete each. Thus the times are estimates based on an average length driving  route, good weather conditions, light traffic and a well-prepared driver. Furthermore  the same authors underline that skills tests must include all the segments listed in   Table 1. In this way a test may take more time than shown in this table, but should Also the guide underline the procedures of taking curves, entering into the  crossroads and others. These represents for the psychologists criteria in validation  of the driving tests baterry. Underlining the importance of visual functions in driving, such as acuity,  field, contrast, color and night vision can be measured as part of an eye  examination. Functional vision includes performance of daily living skills, reading  ability, mobility skills and driving skills. In this way the measurement of visual  functions is often used as a substitute from which to estimate functional vision.   According to the visual standards (Colenbrander, A. De Laey, J.J., 2006), the  visual acuity is measured often, visual field sometimes and contrast sensitivity  rarely. The authors underline that estimating predicted driving performance on the  basis of a few parameters, many other factors, such as training, experience and  familiarity with the driving environment can affect the prediction. In this way the  authors present in Figure 1 particularities of vision related functioning. As it can be observed in Figure 1, the authors undeline that the driving tests  included into the tests battery has to predict the driving performances in traffic. In  this way, they highlite that the driving safety does not depend so much on what is  seen, but rather on how quickly and how adequately drivers respond to what is  seen. So, is the moment when the time reaction tests has to be included into a  driving tests baterry. When human observers look at an optic flow stimulus their eye movements  show a regular alternation of gaze shifts and slow tracking movements at a  frequency of about 2 Hz (Niemann, Lappe, Buscher Hoffmann, 1999; Lappe   Hoffmann, 2000).Many perceptual experiments have shown that heading can be perceived  from optic flow (J.E. Cutting, P.M. Vishton, M. Flà ¼ckinger, B. Baumberger, and  J.D. Gerndt, 1997; Turano and X. Wang, 1994; Warren, D.R. Mestre, A.W.   Blackwell, and M.W. Morris, 1991; Stone and J.A. Perrone; 1997). They have  identified important requirements for accurate analysis as well as sources of error. A particular concern are eye movements which are induced by optic flow and  which, by distorting the structure of the flow field projected in the eye, compromise  heading detection. 2. THE OBJECTIVES, HYPOTHESYS, PARTICIPANTS The objective is focused to design a psychological test battery to predict the  driving behavior of the potential drivers in the way of decreasing the accident risk. The independent variables of the tests baterry are predictors for the driving  performances in traffic. The participants were 106 persons, both male and female, age between  18 and 45 years old (M = 34.4, 4; S.D. = 1.32), different levels of education. Also,  the participants were driving school students tested at two driving schools from  Bucharest. Organ structure Organ function Skills and abilities Societal consequenc. THE ORGAN THE PERSON Examples: Injury Degeneration Visual acuity Visual field Reading Mobility Employment Quality of Life ICIDH: Disorder Impairment Disability Handicap ICF: Body structure Body function Activities and Participation Barriers and Facilitators Vision: Visual Functions How the eye functions Functional Vision How the person functions DRIVING Acuity test Field test Contrast Driving ability test Driving in actual trafic Traffic conditions 246 Markus Sommer et al. 4 3. THE METHOD 3.1. THE INSTRUMENTS – RT – Reaction Test (Schuhfried, 2007). With the RT is it possible to  measure reaction time as both a simple choice and a multiple-choice reaction. Yellow light stimulus modalities are available in the test battery, so that different  stimulus constellations for the measurement of reaction time can be created. These  can range from individual stimuli to simultaneous or sequentially presented  stimulus combinations. The use of a rest key and a reaction key makes it possible  to distinguish between reaction and motor time. – Determination test (Schuhfried, 2007). The test is used to measure reactive  stress tolerance and the associated ability to react and requires the respondent to  use his cognitive skills to distinguish different colors and sounds, to memorize the  relevant characteristics of stimulus configurations, response buttons and assignment  rules, and to select the relevant responses according to the assignment rules laid  down in the instructions and/or learned in the course of the test. The difficulty of  the DT arises from the need to sustain continuous, rapid and varying responses to  rapidly changing stimuli. – Tachitoscopic test (Schuhfried, 2007). The ATAVT tests observational  ability by briefly presenting pictures of traffic situations. The items are constructed  using an explicit, theory-led rationale which is based on detailed analysis of the  cognitive processes involved in working the test. The design of the ATAVT is  based on the principles used in the well-established TAVTMB test but builds on  these by taking account of recent research findings relating to the perception of  scenes and objects. – Visiotest-Stereoscopy. The Visiotest-Campitest with 6 visual acuity tests  and the extension of the peripheral visual field. For the research, only the  stereoscopic visual test was used. The test consist in a table with letters (A, B, C)  which for a person with stereoscopic vision appears at different distances.The correlation matrix from Table 3 reveal the statistically significant  correlations between the criterias and the predictors. Thus, the criteria right curve,  cross road correlate statistically significant and positive with the following  predictors: tahitoscop corect (34**), DT corect (.27**), reaction time (.41**),  motor time (.32**). The same criteria correlate statistically significant and negative  (p Taking in consideration the criteria stop to the pedestrian crossing from the  same Table 3, can be observed a statistically significant and positive correlation  between this criteria and the following predictors: DT corrrect (.38**), motor time  reaction (.19*) and S.D. motor time (.17*). The same criteria correlate statistically  significant and negative with the following predictors: Viziotest-stereoscopy  (–.42**), DT omitted (–.41**) and tahito incorrect (–.18*).Analizing the correlation between the criteria total performances in driving  and the predictors can be observed a statistically significant and positive  correlation with the following predictors: tahitoscop correct (.46**), DT correct  (.53**), reaction time (.38**), motor time (.42**), S.D. reaction time (.31**) and  S.D. motor time (.27**). The same criteria correlate statistically significant and  negative with the predictors: Viziotest-stereoscopy (–.51**), DT omitte d (–.27**)  and tahito incorrect (–.32**). Applying the regression model for the criteria total performances in driving  the following regresssion model had been obtained (5). Table 4 Summary Model R R Square Adjusted R square 1 0.742 0.550 0.526 a) Predictors: (Constant), tahitoscop correct, tahitoscop incorrect, DT correct, DT incorrect, DT  omitted, TR motor time, S.D. reaction time, S.D. motor time, viziotest-stereoscopy;  b) Dependent variable: total performances in driving. Table 4 underlines an error reduction of the model with 55% and a strong  correlation between the independent variables and the criteria (0.742). Calculating the F value (23.29) the regression model have a strong predictive  value for the criteria total performances in driving (p Continued driver training in the form of guided lifelong self-improvement activities  is essential for acquiring new skills (Sommer, Herle, Hausler, 2007). These new  skills are required as driving gets more complex with technology: car audio  devices, reading maps on screens, using computers, note taking, talking on phone  or radio, GPS device. The Standard Quality Driving Curriculum needs to be kept  up-dated continuously and the latest additions are to be made available. These updates  are to focus on new developments that technology brings to vehicles and roads, all of which require the acquisition of new skills by drivers. The research finding reveal that designing psychological test batteries comes  in the help of safety traffic and minimizing the accident probability to occur only  taking in consideration the criteria validity.