Recent research on elderly drivers has consistently shown that coping with traffic situations at intersections puts severe problems on this growing driver subpopulation. They are over-proportionally involved in accidents, typical offences and driver errors at intersections. Moreover it was found that several driving manoeuvres like turning left or crossing are experienced as extremely difficult by elderly drivers. Therefore research is presented in some detail which was concerned with the background and possible explanations of these problems. In one study the demands are compared of a specific left turn manoeuvre at a signalized intersection in real traffic between elderly and experienced middle-aged drivers. Though one could expect difficulties experienced by the elderly when approaching the intersection results show that both groups felt the highest levels of demand when crossing the stream of oncoming traffic. In a second study decisions and errors are compared when elderly and middle-aged drivers are approaching a signalized intersection under conditions of simulated traffic. Results suggest that attempts to reduce the complexity of the driving task by establishing directives about the choice of response alternatives are useless or even contra-productive when highly overlearned, automatized driving skills are attached.
Abstract