An Objective Testing Method to Determine Driving Ability

Abstract

The pendular test was used to study turning sensations of aspirants with “physiological spontaneous nystagmus”. A steering wheel was attached to the pendular chair and persons were asked to turn against the chair rotation. Chair movement, steering wheel and horizontal nystagmus were computer-analysed. The correlation between cumulogram of slow nystagmus phases and steering wheel rotations was evaluated and the value of the steering wheel and eye movement were calculated. It could be shown that the compensation of the pendular chair by the means of the steering wheel was symmetric in healthy persons in spite of the presence of spontaneous nystagmus. In patients with dizziness, no symmetric reaction was recorded.