Older Drivers and Automobile Safety

This fact sheet discusses issues related to older drivers and highway and automobile safety. It notes that, in addition to the fact that the population of older individuals is growing, the proportion of drivers in that population is also increasing. A number of factors place older drivers at risk. These include: (1) Decreases in cognitive skills, vision, hearing and reaction time as individuals age. (2) Older vehicles driven by the elderly tend to lack up to date safety features. (3) Roads, intersections and traffic signs may be confusing and/or hard to read. In order to reduce the risk to older drivers the following areas need to be improved: driving skills and behavior, the driving environment and the vehicle driven.

• Record URL:
  http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/il/fs51r_drivers.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  AARP

  Public Policy Institute, 601 E Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20049
• Authors:
  • Houser, Ari
• Publication Date: 2005

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Edition: Fact Sheet
• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: 2p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abilities; Aged drivers; Auditory perception; Behavior; Cognition; Driving; Highway safety; Highway travel; Intersections; Lettering; Occupant protection devices; Reaction time; Traffic safety; Traffic signs; Vehicle safety; Vision
• Uncontrolled Terms: Confusing intersections; Vehicle age; Vehicle model year
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01003883
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 14 2005 1:52PM