A Naturalistic Driving Study Across the Lifespan

In high-risk populations, the ability to drive safely requires striking a balance between maintaining independent mobility and the avoidance of unsafe driving. In the United States, where alternative transportation is often limited, motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are one of the leading causes of death for individuals across the lifespan. The Senior and Adolescent Naturalistic Driving Study (SANDS) investigated the complexities surrounding driving in two high risk age groups (teens and older adults). We employed naturalistic driving technologies to measure unbiased real-world driving mobility (amount traveled throughout environment), driving safety (crashes/risky driving behavior), and driving behavior (how/when travel occurred). SANDS participants were recruited to participate in the following stages: (1) a comprehensive baseline assessment of demographics, cognitive, sensory, and physical/health functioning; (2) installation of a Naturalistic Data Acquisition Device (N-DAD) into participants’ vehicles for two weeks, providing objective driving data via photographs, high g-force events (i.e., MVCs, near MVCs, and critical incidents), and Geographical Positioning System (GPS); and (3) a post-test assessment during which participants provided self-reported information about driving safety, mobility and behavior and removal of devices. Overall, due to limitations with the N-DAD, the results should be interpreted with great caution. Results indicated a general lack of association between self-reported and objective data, with one exception: there was a significant relationship between self-reported and objectively measured interaction with cell phones. Several possible demographic, cognitive, sensory, and physical predictors of driving emerged for the sample, with different predictors for older adults and teens. Qualitative data suggested that participants were satisfied with the N-DAD overall and see its utility for other’s to review their driving behavior, particularly if incentives were involved (e.g., discount on car insurance). Implications of findings and possible future directions are discussed.

• Record URL:
  https://stride.ce.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Stavrinos_Ross_STRIDE_Final-Report.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development and Education Center (STRIDE)

  University of Florida
  365 Weil Hall
  Gainesville, FL  United States  32611

  Alabama Department of Transportation

  1409 Coliseum Boulevard
  Montgomery, AL  United States  36130-3050

  Florida Department of Transportation

  605 Suwannee Street
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399-0450

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Stavrinos, Despina
  • Ross, Lesley
  • Sisiopiku, Virginia
• Publication Date: 2014-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 83p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged drivers; Automatic data collection systems; Behavior; Cellular telephones; Crash risk forecasting; Demographics; Driving; Mobility; Teenage drivers; Traffic safety
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01554152
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 2012-095S
• Files: UTC, TRIS, RITA, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 26 2015 9:49AM