Why drive manual? Automatic transmission improves driving behaviour in older drivers

Driving in complex traffic environments leads to high workload, especially in traffic situations that require interaction with other road users, for example at T-junctions. In these interactive situations, older drivers have less cognitive processing resources than younger drivers. In fact, older drivers crash more frequently in complex traffic environments, e.g., in intersections that involve turning, especially turning across the oncoming lane, and in complex traffic situations, e.g., when overtaking and merging. There have been contradictory results about older drivers’ performance regarding tactical and operational driving skills, in accordance with the Michon hierarchy. While some claim younger drivers make more driving errors than their older counterparts, older drivers have been found to have more problems with operational driving skills. This paper focuses on one particular operational driving skill, namely gear changing, which is often seen as an automatized task. For a novice driver, gear changing can be difficult and will not be automatized until it is overlearned after increasing practice. However, for older drivers the execution of motor skills can become less automatized than previously, which could affect gear changing. In a previous study, inappropriate gears changes were found to be the fourth most common driving error in older drivers. However, it remains unknown how transmission type affects driving behaviour and whether or not a car with automatic transmission enhances safe driving. The aim of the present study was thus to investigate whether a car with automatic, compared with manual, transmission improves driving behaviour in older drivers.

• Record URL:
  • http://acrs.org.au/publications/conference-papers/database/
• Authors:
  • Falkmer, T
  • Selander, H
  • Bolin, I
• Conference:
  • Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference, 2011, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
• Publication Date: 2011-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 8p
• Monograph Title: Driving research, policy and action towards zero deaths and injuries: Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference, 2011, Perth Convention Exhibition Centre, Perth, Western Australia, 6-9 November

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged; Aged drivers; Crash rates; Driver performance; Drivers; High risk drivers; Highway safety; Manual transmissions; Safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users); Safe systems (vehicles)
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ATRI Terms: Aged driver; Crash proneness; Driver performance; Road safety; Vehicle transmission
• ITRD Terms: 1333: Transmission (veh)
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01381501
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 22 2012 12:13PM