Psychological factors influencing left-turn decisions in elderly drivers.
JOUSSE ; CAVALLO ; ISINGRINI
Type de document
COMMUNICATION ORALE SANS ACTES (COM)
Langue
anglais
Auteur
JOUSSE ; CAVALLO ; ISINGRINI
Résumé / Abstract
Accidents statistics show that older drivers are over-represented in intersection accidents, especially when turning left. Our study aims at better understanding how ageing affects the driving abilities of elderly drivers in this situation. Three groups of drivers, young (25-35 years), younger-old (60-69 years), and older-old (70 and more) took part in the study. The experiment consisted in two parts. Perceptual, cognitive and motor abilities were assessed in the first one. The second one took place on a driving simulator. Participants had to decide if they could perform a left turn at intersections. Traffic conditions were varied. Statistical analysis showed the classical age-related perceptual, cognitive and physical declines. With regard to driving performance, elderly drivers accepted fewer left-turns than younger drivers, but exhibited more risky behaviors, especially when traffic was complex. Two patterns emerged from correlations between test results and driving behavior. Driving performances of young people showed that both their cognitive and perceptual abilities correlated with driving performances, but not their motor abilities. As for elderly people, cognitive and motor abilities were connected to driving performance, but not their perceptual abilities. Regressions are being processed in order to detail the relationships between the different variables. Results will determine the most relevant predictors of risky behaviors among elderly drivers at intersections.
