Problem Driving Maneuvers of Elderly Drivers

Abstract

Older drivers, who are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population, experience high crash rates. An analysis was performed to evaluate potential problem maneuvers that may lead to higher crash involvement. Left turns against oncoming traffic, gap acceptance for crossing non-limited-access highways, and high-speed lane changes on limited-access highways are identified as such maneuvers. Older and younger driver accident propensities are measured, using Kentucky crash data. The findings of the analysis show that older drivers are more likely to be involved in crashes related with these maneuvers compared with younger drivers; older male drivers are safer than older female drivers in left-turn crashes and gap acceptance–related crashes, and having a passenger beside the older drivers makes for a safer driving environment. Potential countermeasures aiming to reduce the accident rates of older drivers are discussed.

Crash involvement of drivers with multiple crashes

“…The results of the study with respect to driver age and gender are consistent with those of prior research (Gebers, 1999;Chandraratna and Stamatiadis, 2003). Using age as a categorical variable with 12 classes (defined in Table 5), results in an overall p-value for AGE of 0.000.…”

Contributing Factors to Older-Driver Injury Severity in Rural and Urban Areas

“…Older drivers' maneuvering difficulties compared with younger drivers were studied by Chandraratna and Stamatiadis (2003) using Kentucky crash data from 1995-1999. It was found that the risk of an older driver being involved in a left-turn crash increased after the age of 65, with higher tendencies in rural areas.…”

Exploring Older Driver Lateral Head Rotations at Intersections Using Naturalistic Driving Data

“…They found that drivers aged 70 and older exhibited a significantly higher RAIR than their younger counterparts for complex intersections (i.e., those with more than two traffic signals). Chandraratna and Stamatiadis (2003) used 1995-1999 crash data from Kentucky to investigate crash rates in various situations. Both gap estimations and LTAPs were found to have a higher crash rate for drivers over 65.…”