This paper reports the results of several field surveys on the characteristics of older road users in Japan and of their traffic accident statistics. The results obtained are as follows: the reduced physical and mental functions with advancing age give improper driving characteristics to elderly drivers, but are not deterministic factors of quitting driving; the driving characteristics have some relation with traffic accidents; problematic drivers seem to emerge among elderly drivers; reduced functions are also related to the occurrence of accidents among elderly people in bicycle riding and walking. Further, a systematic and comprehensive approach is presented for traffic accident prevention among the elderly based upon these results. (A)
Abstract