To explain how and why senior drivers engage in certain driving behaviours at, and hold certain perceptions of, intersections, 165 seniors were engaged in focus group interviews comprised of to 5 members, 18 ride-alongs and 1055 questionnaire respondents. All participants were aged within a 55 to 80+ year old age span. Of special note is that the 80+ drivers were separated from the 75-79 year old drivers. Not surprisingly senior drivers feel quite confident about driving at intersections. Their major problems are with left-hand turns, negotiating turn-taking at uncontrolled and four way stop sign intersections, and moving into traffic on on-ramps. Their least favourite road users at intersections are bicyclists. Behaviours unique to senior drivers was their avoidance techniques of making left-hand turns, their reliance on driving in right-hand lanes, compensation strategies for avoiding lane changes, and their reliance on other drivers to communicate their intents at uncontrolled or four-way stop sign intersections Behaviours unique to the 80+ drivers was their preference to stop at intersections, regardless of yield signs, amber lights or uncontrolled intersections, their reliance to stick to familiar driving patterns, and their views of self as drivers with declining physical conditions. In the survey there were major intersection-related differences, in gender for nearly every intersection behaviour or feature, between members of different age groups, between urban and rural residents and between drivers with different accident histories. (A)
Samenvatting