Driving performance of elderly drivers in comparison to middle-aged drivers during a representative, standardized driving test in real traffic

The present study aimed to analyze the driving behaviour of elderly drivers in a representative driving test in real traffic in comparison to middle-aged drivers. Therefore the driving performances of 42 elderly drivers (62 - 88 years) and ten middle-aged drivers (40 - 48 years) were rated by a driving instructor, traffic psychologist and the driver himself. Additionally, driving errors were registered semi-automatically and categorized with an application for tablet PCs. The driving performance ratings that the driving instructor and traffic psychologist gave the elderly drivers were worse than those of the middle-aged drivers. Furthermore, it was more difficult for the elderly drivers to realistically rate their driving performance than for the middle-aged drivers: the differences between the self-ratings and the ratings of the driving instructor/traffic psychologist were greater for the elderly drivers than for the middle-aged drivers. The analysis of the driving errors revealed that on the one hand the elderly drivers had quantitatively more driving errors than the middle-aged. But, on the other hand, the error profile of the elderly drivers differed qualitatively from that of the middle-aged. The most frequent errors of the elderly drivers were inadequate securing behaviour at intersections and during lane changes, inappropriate choice of speed as well as acceleration/deceleration behaviour, no/untimely blinking and bad lane keeping. In contrast to this, tail-gating was more frequent for the middle-aged drivers. Generally, the findings confirm the high interindividual variability of the driving performance of elderly drivers. Within the group of the elderly drivers, regular drivers revealed a better driving performance than those who drive infrequently. However, within the present study, it cannot be decided if poor driving performance is the reason or the effect of infrequent driving. On average, the data indicate the need for elderly drivers to receive training. Future studies should focus on the development and evaluation of economic programs to preserve the driving safety of elderly drivers. (A)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00443670
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Beitrag zu den Postersitzungen.
• Authors:
  • Kenntner-Mabiala, R
  • Kaussner, Y
  • Hoffmann, S
  • Volk, M
• Publication Date: 2016-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 73-6
• Monograph Title: Fahren und Gehirn im Kontext des demographischen Wandels. Das 11. Gemeinsame Symposium der Deutschen Gesellschaft fuer Verkehrspsychologie (DGVP) und Deutschen Gesellschaft fuer Verkehrsmedizin (DGVM) 2015 in St. Gallen/Schweiz. Themenheft
• Serial:
  • Zeitschrift für Verkehrssicherheit
  • Volume: 62
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Kirschbaum Verlag
  • ISSN: 0044-3670

Subject/Index Terms

• ITRD Terms: 2205: Ability (road user); 8525: Conference; 1855: Driving (veh); 1746: Elderly people; 6440: Error; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 2205: Performance (road user); 8110: Switzerland; 6255: Test; 9086: Variability
• Subject Areas: I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01610543
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen (BASt)
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Sep 19 2016 10:41AM