SYNTHESIS OF HUMAN FACTORS RESEARCH ON OLDER DRIVERS AND HIGHWAY SAFETY, Volume I: Older Driver Research Synthesis

Staplin, Loren; Ball, Karlene K.; Park, Denise; Decina, Lawrence E.; Lococo, Kathy H.; Gish, Kenneth W.; Kotwal, Bari · 1999 · ROSA P / United States. Federal Highway Administration

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Summary

This report, Volume I of a two-part synthesis sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, addresses the growing safety and mobility needs of older drivers. Motivated by demographic shifts—specifically the rapid growth of the population aged 65 and older and their high exposure-corrected accident rates—the study aims to synthesize existing research on age-related differences in driver capabilities. The goal is to provide evidence-based insights to support highway design, operational policies, and future research initiatives. The methodology involved a comprehensive literature review and synthesis of studies published primarily between 1970 and the mid-1990s. Researchers conducted database searches across TRIS, NTIS, PsycINFO, and AgeLine, using specific search terms to identify relevant citations in four broad content areas: vision and visual attention, memory and cognition, physical capabilities, and motivation/risk perception. After filtering for relevance and validity, a final target set of articles was established. The synthesis employed meta-analytic techniques where possible, calculating effect sizes to quantify similarities and differences across studies. However, due to inconsistencies in measurement methods across the literature, meta-analysis was limited primarily to visual performance and, to a lesser extent, cognitive domains. Other areas were summarized through graphical representations or narrative reviews. The findings detail specific age-related declines in driver capabilities. In vision, older drivers exhibit reduced static and dynamic visual acuity, lower contrast sensitivity, impaired night vision, increased glare sensitivity, and a narrower useful field of view. Cognitive analyses reveal slower reaction times, reduced working memory capacity, and greater difficulty with divided attention and selective attention tasks. Physical capabilities, including strength, flexibility, and head/neck mobility, also show age-related declines. Regarding motivation and risk perception, the synthesis notes that older drivers often have different subjective risk assessments compared to younger drivers, though objective risk data indicates higher accident involvement rates for certain demographics. The report highlights significant gaps in knowledge, particularly regarding the integration of these capabilities into real-world driving performance. The significance of this work lies in its provision of a structured, evidence-based foundation for accommodating older drivers in the highway system. By identifying specific functional limitations, the synthesis supports the development of targeted highway design guidelines and operational recommendations. It also establishes a framework for future research, emphasizing the need for standardized measures to facilitate more robust meta-analyses and a deeper understanding of how age-related changes interact with specific roadway features. This document serves as a critical resource for transportation engineers, planners, and researchers aiming to enhance safety for an aging driving population.

Key finding

The synthesis identified significant age-related declines in static and dynamic visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and reaction time, which inform highway design recommendations for older drivers.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• age related perceptual decline
• older drivers
• useful field of view
• sensory abilities
• cognitive capacity variation
• older driver retraining

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Empirical Findings: behavioral performance data, observational prevalence
• Theoretical Contribution: theory or model