Highway safety issues of older drivers in Kansas : summary.
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Highway safety issues of older drivers in Kansas : summary.

Filetype[PDF-230.65 KB]


English
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Details:

  • Creators:
  • Corporate Creators:
    Kansas State University. Civil Engineering Dept.
  • Corporate Contributors:
    Kansas. Dept. of Transportation. Bureau of Materials & Research
  • Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Publication/ Report Number:
    K-TRAN: KSU-07-3
  • Resource Type:
    Tech Report
  • Geographical Coverage:
    Kansas
  • Edition:
    Final report; Aug. 2006-May 2009
  • Corporate Publisher:
    Kansas. Dept. of Transportation. Bureau of Materials & Research
  • Abstract:
    The older population (>65 years) numbered 36.8 million in the United States in 2005. By 2030, the number is

    estimated to be 71.5 million, almost twice as many. An increase in the older population means an increase in

    older drivers as well. As a result of the natural aging process, the possibility of older drivers being involved in

    crashes and sustaining severe injuries increases, according to past findings. The objective of this study was to

    identify characteristics of older drivers involved in crashes in Kansas as well as associated safety issues, which

    can be used to suggest potential countermeasures for improving safety.

    A detailed characteristic analysis was carried out for older, middle-aged, and younger drivers involved in crashes,

    using crash data obtained from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), and comparisons were made

    among the groups. However, the characteristic analysis had no basis with regard to injury severity and hence,

    univariate statistical analysis was carried out to highlight these severities. In addition, a survey was conducted

    focusing on identifying older-driver behaviors, potential problems, and level of exposure to various conditions.

    From the severity analysis, it was found that injury severity of older drivers in crashes occurring on rural roads

    were significantly higher compared to those on urban roads. Therefore, a detailed analysis was carried out using

    the decomposition method and ordered probit modeling to identify contributing factors leading to the situation.

    According to the findings, the number of older male drivers involved in crashes was higher compared to older

    female drivers, even though older driver licensees’ data indicate the opposite. Most of the older-driver-involved

    crashes occurred under good environmental conditions and at intersections. A majority of older drivers had

    difficulties associated with left- turn maneuvering and preferred to avoid high-traffic roads and other demanding

    conditions. Exposure to inclement weather conditions and difficulties associated with merging, diverging, and

    identifying speeds and distance of oncoming traffic have lead to higher crash propensity. Crashes occurring

    at rural arterials and at hill crests were critical in causing severe injuries. In rural areas, driving in the wrong

    direction, failing to comply with traffic signs and signals, and speeding were identified as frequent contributing

    factors in severe crashes.

  • Format:
    PDF
  • Funding:
    C1668
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