As people get older their mobility decreases. But their mobility is determined mainly by some demographical characteristics like the place where they live; some socio-economic characteristics such as the ownership of a car or a bicycle, and by social or recreational activities. Generally transport performance decreases as people age. Thereby their traffic experience or their skill as road users get smaller. Complex situations in high density traffic can cause problems with the processing of information and with making the right decision. The estimation of speed and distances become more difficult, in particular in twilight and darkness. A third factor is the increasing physical vulnerability. The fatality rate is much higher amongst old people. Possible solutions in traffic are for instance: the provision of special walk or cycle-routes, the adaptation of the vehicle like a tricycle or another bicycle, the adaptation of motorized traffic and making traffic situations less complex, the improvement of vehicle design (bumper height, bonnet) and the improvement of first aid once an accident has occurred.
Abstract