When statistically analyzing the age groups of traffic accident fatalities, senior citizens account for over 50% of all deaths. Similarly, over 50% of all fatalities occur at intersections. In light of this, research on human behavioral traits, kinetic visual acuity, kinetic visual fields and their aging effects is eagerly sought to uncover the causes of traffic accidents. When renewing their driver's license, senior citizens undergo a kinetic visual acuity test during their class to determine

more »

... heir driving aptitude. However, traditional kinetic visual acuity and kinetic visual field measurements do not factor in the effects of individual differences in simple reaction times. This study identifies problems with the traditional method employed to define kinetic visual acuity and kinetic visual fields, and proposes new definitions of kinetic visual acuity and kinetic visual fields that measure simple reaction times and their aging effects. Simple reaction time tests reveal that simple reaction times of senior citizens are longer than those of younger people. The results of appraisal tests between traditional and new kinetic visual acuity definitions demonstrate the appropriateness of the new kinetic visual acuity definition. The study also takes a quantitative look at the aging effects of kinetic visual fields, measuring kinetic visual field characteristics of senior citizens while assessing space dependence, light dependence and index speed dependence of young people. The results obtained show that kinetic visual field ranges decrease with age, particularly in upward visual fields rather than downward visual fields in all target conditions. Visual field angle reductions in the temple sides of upward visual fields were of particular note.