Older drivers and pedestrians (over 65 years) are currently over-represented in severe injury crashes due to the increases in functional disabilities that occur with age and frailty. Road and highway design is likely to contribute to their driving and road-crossing difficulties. This paper reviews age-related performance deficits that affect driving and crossing roads and ways in which engineering treatments might be used to overcome these difficulties. Evidence is drawn from current research in two areas. First, an older driver black-spot site analysis identified road design problems for older drivers and suggested a number of recommendations for change in geometric design of intersections. Second, an older pedestrian observational study investigated behavioural differences between young and old pedestrians while crossing the road Findings from this research showed that complex traffic environments placed older pedestrians at risk of collision while crossing and simplifying the crossing task through improved road engineering had potential to reduce this risk. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E208059.
Samenvatting