Contribution of Behavioral Aspects of Older Drivers to Fatal Traffic Crashes in Florida

Fault in a set of fatal traffic crashes that occurred on state roadways in Florida, primarily in the year 2000, was examined. A case-study approach by a team of trained investigators was taken to examine data compiled from a variety of sources, including traffic homicide reports and crash scene photographs. Crash types were identified in which older drivers were significantly over- and underrepresented in fault. Finally, for crashes in which older drivers were at fault, various contributing factors were identified, including driver errors. Older drivers were overrepresented in fault by a factor of 1.37 compared with younger drivers in the data set. Older drivers were significantly overrepresented in fault in left turn crashes versus oncoming traffic and cross-traffic. Consistent with other work, older drivers were responsible for more intersection than nonintersection crashes. Among other factors, misjudging speeds of other vehicles, failure to observe other vehicles, disregarding traffic signals, and improper (disallowed) left turns were the major driver errors in intersection crashes. Sudden loss of control and driving under the influence of alcohol were the major contributing factors in nonintersection crashes. Approximately 10% of crash contributing factors indicated confusion, inappropriate action, or illegal maneuvers, with more than two-thirds of these cases being attributed to drivers aged 75 years and older. Another important finding of the study is that investigating officers have a tendency to frequently use the term “failure to yield right-of-way,” rather than identifying more specific contributing factors.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.3141/2078-07
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Contribution+of+Behavioral+Aspects+of+Older+Drivers+to+Fatal+Traffic+Crashes+in+Florida&author=B.+Alam&author=L.+Spainhour&publication_year=2008
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309125901
• Authors:
  • Alam, Bhuiyan Monwar
  • Spainhour, Lisa K
• Publication Date: 2008

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 49-56
• Monograph Title: Highway Safety: Planning; Young Drivers; Older Drivers; Indian Nations; Roundabouts; Traffic Law Enforcement; and Trucks and Buses
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2078
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged drivers; Case studies; Crash analysis; Crash causes; Driver errors; Drunk driving; Fatalities; Highway safety; Intersections; Left turns; Loss of control
• Uncontrolled Terms: Failure to yield right-of-way
• Geographic Terms: Florida
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01103532
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309125901
• Report/Paper Numbers: 08-0571
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jun 24 2008 11:42AM