AGE DIFFERENCES IN ESTIMATING VEHICLE VELOCITY

Automobile accidents among older adults may be related to difficulties in judging the speed of other vehicles. To examine this possibility, 3 groups of observers in the young adult, middle-aged, and older adult age ranges were asked to estimate the velocity of an isolated automobile traveling at 15-50 mph (24-80 kph). Across all age groups, perceived and actual velocity were related by a power function with an exponent of 1.36. Age was significantly and positively correlated with intercepts, but negatively correlated with exponents; that is, older observers showed less sensitivity to changes in actual velocity. Results bear on the issues of ontogenetic changes in accident involvement and sensitivity to motion.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08827974
• Corporate Authors:

  American Psychological Association

  750 First Street, NE
  Washington, DC  United States  20002-4242
• Authors:
  • Scialfa, C T
  • Guzy, L T
  • Leibowitz, H W
  • Garvey, P M
  • Tyrrell, R A
• Publication Date: 1991

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 60-66
• Serial:
  • Psychology and Aging
  • Volume: 6
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: American Psychological Association
  • ISSN: 0882-7974

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Drivers; Estimating; Motor vehicles; Speed; Traffic speed; Velocity perception; Young adults
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver age
• Old TRIS Terms: Age factor in driving
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I90: Vehicles;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00713957
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 27 1995 12:00AM