Driving Simulator, Virtual Reality, and On-Road Interventions for Driving-Related Anxiety: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Driving-related anxiety contributes to negative changes in driving habits, skills, and satisfaction. Driving rehabilitation interventions have the potential to address driving-related anxiety, however, the evidence is not yet critically appraised. Researchers conducted a systematic review on the impact of on-road, driving simulator or virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) driving rehabilitation interventions addressing driving-related anxiety. Searches in nine databases identified 1521 records, with 12 remaining for quality appraisal: two on-road, six driving simulator, and four on VRET. On-road interventions were low quality. Meanwhile, driving simulation and VRET interventions included high-quality evidence demonstrating significant reductions in psychological symptoms, subjective distress, and driving errors.

Keywords:

• Driving
• anxiety
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• intervention
• fitness to drive
• systematic literature review

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Jessie Wilson and Dr. Trish Tucker, from the School of Occupational Therapy at Western University, London, Canada for their comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).