Yaşlı Sürücülerin Trafik Ortamlarındaki Yaşantıları: Sorunlar, Çözümler ve Yaşam Kalitesine Yansımalar Temelli Bir Nitel Çalışma Experiences of Older Drivers in Traffic Context: A Qualitative Study Based on Problems, Solutions, and Reflections on Quality of Life
DOI: 10.31682/ayna.720020
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Summary
This qualitative study investigates the experiences of older drivers in traffic environments, aiming to identify specific problems they face and gather their proposed solutions to improve traffic safety and quality of life. The research is motivated by the rapidly aging population in Turkey and the critical role driving plays in maintaining older adults' independence, social engagement, and psychological well-being. While previous literature has largely focused on quantitative assessments of physical decline or accident statistics, this study seeks to understand how older drivers perceive and interpret traffic challenges from their own perspective, addressing a gap in understanding the subjective barriers to their continued participation in traffic systems. The study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore the lived experiences of 12 male participants residing in Ankara, aged between 61 and 76. Participants had extensive driving experience, with active driving years ranging from 15 to 56 years. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, which were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to identify recurring themes. The analysis focused on how participants made sense of traffic problems and potential improvements, utilizing an idiographic approach to deeply examine individual experiences before deriving broader conclusions. The analysis yielded two superordinate themes: "Three Problems of Traffic: Human, Vehicle, Environment" and "Solutions of Traffic." Under the first theme, participants identified three sub-themes. First, "Behaviors of Road Users" highlighted issues such as speeding, failure to adjust speed to conditions, erratic lane changes ("zigzagging"), and lack of signaling, which caused stress and tension for older drivers. Second, "Individual Characteristics of Road Users" attributed these violations to the impulsivity, aggression, and lack of experience of younger drivers, whom older participants often viewed as disrespectful or reckless. Third, "Vehicle and Environment Characteristics" noted that modern vehicles' high speed and acceleration capabilities, along with adverse weather conditions, induced anxiety and a sense of vulnerability among older drivers. The second theme, "Solutions of Traffic," encompassed four sub-themes: the need for better education and awareness, stricter adherence to rules, enhanced monitoring and penalties, and improved vehicle and road maintenance. The study concludes that older drivers constitute a distinct group with specific vulnerabilities and perceptions regarding traffic safety. Their experiences reveal that traffic problems are not solely due to age-related deficits but are significantly influenced by the behavior of other road users and environmental factors. The findings suggest that improving the traffic environment for older adults requires addressing these external threats through education, enforcement, and infrastructure improvements. By identifying these barriers and incorporating older drivers' perspectives into solution development, the study highlights pathways to support their continued driving, thereby preserving their autonomy and quality of life in an aging society.
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| Stage | Outcome | Tool | Model | Prompt | Attempts | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| discover | success | Crossref | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-17 |
| archive | success | unpaywall | — | — | 2 | 2026-06-25 |
| extract | success | cached | — | — | 2 | 2026-06-26 |
| clean | success | clean | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-18 |
| chunk | success | chunk | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-18 |
| embed | success | embed | Qwen/Qwen3-Embedding-8B | — | 1 | 2026-06-18 |
| promote | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-17 |
| summarize | success | llm | qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant | summ-v5 | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
| tag | success | vector_similarity | — | — | 6 | 2026-06-18 |
| verify | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-26; verification: verified.
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