This study explores problems associated with elderly drivers. One problem is the increase of physical vulnerability with age, which means that the same accident often leads to much more severe injury in an older than a younger adult driver. Another problem is the decline of sensory, perceptual-motor, and cognitive abilities (impairments) associated with attention and visual deficits and dementia because of ageing-related degenerative processes and diseases. As a result, processing of and responding to traffic information is slowed and activities cannot well be performed simultaneously. Much of this may be compensated by behavioural changes. Studies of accident characteristics and driving skill in relation to ageing suggest that compensation breaks down in complex and ambiguous traffic situations and in individuals with strongly impaired perceptual and cognitive function. Possible changes to reduce aging-related accidents are discussed. (Author/publisher)
Abstract