Because of demographic trends in industrialized western countries a large increase of the proportion of elderly car drivers is to be expected in the future. This article tries to summerize these trends with special emphazise on the mobility needs of the elderly on the one hand and with regard to traffic safety on the other. It will become clear that the private car is of special importance for the mobility of elderly people and that this importance will be still more pronounced in the future traffic systems should be rejected. On the contrary future traffic systems be designed in a way that meets the performance standards of the elderly. It is suggested that in addition to the criteria of safety and mobilityy, the minimization of driver workload should be defined as a further goal in the design of traffic systems.
Abstract