Implications of monocular vision for racing drivers.

We performed two experiments to investigate how monocular vision and a monocular generalized reduction in vision (MRV) impact driving performance during racing. A total of 75 visually normal students or professional racing drivers, were recruited for the two experiments. Driving performance was evaluated under three visual conditions: normal vision, simulated monocularity and simulated monocular reduction in vision. During the driving scenario, the drivers had to detect and react to the sudden intrusion of an opponent's racing car into their trajectory when entering a turn. Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) and ANOVA were then used to explore how monocular vision and monocular reduction in vision affect drivers' performance (crash and reaction time) while confronting them with critical situations. The results show that drivers under monocular condition are from 2.1 (95% CI 1.11-4.11, p = .024) to 6.5 (95% CI 3.91-11.13; p = .0001) times more likely to collide with target vehicles compared with their baseline (binocular) condition, depending on the driving situation. Furthermore, there was an average increase in reaction time from 64 ms (p = .029) to 126 ms (p = .015) under monocular condition, depending on the critical driving situation configuration. This study objectively demonstrates that monocularity has a significant impact on driving performance and safety during car racing, whereas performance under monocular reduction in vision conditions is less affected.
Competing Interests: I have read the journal's policy and some authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: José-Alain Sahel: Funding Sources: LabEx LIFESENSES (ANR-10-LABX-65), ERC Synergy "HELMHOLTZ" (ERC Grant Agreement #610110), Banque publique d'Investissement (Sightagain BPI-2014-PRSP-15), University-Hospital Institute “FOReSIGHT ((ANR-18-IAHU-01)”, Foundation Fighting Blindness (C-CL-0912-0600-INSERM01; C-GE-0912-0601-INSERM02). Consultant: Pixium Vision; GenSight Biologics; SparingVision. Personal Financial Interests: GenSight Biologics, Prophesee, Chronolife, Pixium Vision, Tilak Healthcare, Sparing Vision. Bahram Bodaghi is consultant for the Medical Commission of the FIA. Neil R. Miller is study director for the QRK207 Clinical Treatment Trial for acute NAION (Quark Pharmaceuticals) and consultant to the Regenera pharmaceutical company. Gérard Saillant is President of the Medical Commission of the FIA. The other authors do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.