Support Systems Designed for Older Drivers to Achieve Safe and Comfortable Driving

Background: The number of older people is increasing. Many of them expect to maintain a rich social life and to continue driving at an older age. Objective: The present study investigates the mechanisms behind self-regulation and driving cessation in order to suggest development of support systems to prolong older drivers’ safe mobility. Method: Three focus groups were conducted with 19 older active drivers aged 65+ who were divided according to annual mileage driven. Results: A content analysis revealed broad self-regulatory behaviour as already reported in the literature, e.g., avoiding driving at rush hour and at night. The participants also reported difficulty in finding the way to their final destination and an increasing need to plan their travelling. Co-piloting was a behaviour applied by couples to cope with difficulties encountered in traffic. A large part of the discussion was focused on emerging feelings of stress, anxiety and fear when driving in recent years, a feeling induced by external factors e.g., other road users’ behaviour, traffic density or high speed. Apart from health problems, high levels of stress could explain driving cessation, especially for women. An increased feeling of safety and comfort could be achieved by an increased use of support systems specifically designed to respond to older drivers’ needs. Conclusion: Support systems for older drivers should increase comfort and decrease their stress levels. New systems, such as co-pilot function and more developed Global Positioning System (GPS) supporting of the entire travel from door to door, should be developed to respond to the market needs.

A comparative study of automotive trip characteristics between older drivers and others among densely inhabited district and other areas

This paper examines older driver＇s automotive trip （abbreviation： trip） characteristics which include trip frequency, trip length, destination distribution, and non- home-based （NHB） trips. A two-month experiment of 108 participants was carried out to collect GPS tracking data in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. To identify the effect of living area, a comparative analysis between older drivers and others is conducted in densely inhabited district （DID, i.e., urban） and other areas （non-DID, i.e., suburban, rural, etc）, separately. The present study found that there was no sig- nificant difference between the trip characteristics of older drivers and others who were living in DID. Thus, we suggest that the education of safety driving and the rec- ommendation of public transportation should be given to DID-living older drivers. However, the results of non-DID reflected that older drivers＇ trip frequency, trip length, destination, and NHB trips rate were shorter and lower than others＇. This implies that electric vehicles may be suit- able for promotion among older drivers in suburban and rural area. Furthermore, the regression analysis confirmed that ＂older driver＂ was a significant independent variable on trip frequency, trip length, and NHB trips, and there were interaction effects between ＂older driver＂ and ＂living areas＂ on all trip characteristics.

Safety Analysis for Older Drivers at SignalizedIntersections

The proportions of older drivers continue to increase since baby boom generation is becoming old. The level of mobility of older drivers is also increasing. Older drivers begin to noticeably be over-involved in fatal crashes. Intersections appear to be hazardous to older drivers, particularly left turn due to one or more of. sensory, perceptual, cognitive, physical and general driving knowledge deficiencies. The safety concern of older drivers is also becoming significant. Ten years of crash data has been extracted from Kansas accident report system. It has been analyzed using SAS （statistical analysis system） software. Five different age groups have been considered. Comparison has been made between different age groups of the same gender, and the same age group for different gender. Effects of light condition, weather condition, surface type, surface condition, road character and construction/maintenance zone on older drivers＇ safety have also been considered in this study. It has been found out that proportion of older drivers in through movement involved in accident decreases as age increases whereas the proportion of left turn accidents increases with age, left turn is harder for females in all age groups, and proportion of right turn accidents has no specific trend. Most of the accidents have taken place during daylight when there are no adverse weather conditions on dry surface, straight and level road, and blacktop surface type.

Intersection Related Crash Injuries: A Study on Factors Contributing to Injury Severity among Younger and Older Drivers in Summer and Winter

Older drivers and younger drivers are affected differently both in summer and winter. Different factors affect each level of severity differently;some factors affect a particular level of injury severity differently from when the same factor is analyzed for another injury severity. The goal of this study is to identify the factors that contribute to injury severity among older drivers (65+) and young drivers (16 - 25) considering two seasons namely, summer and winter at intersections. Binary ordered probit models were used to develop four models to identify the contributing factors, two models for each season, namely winter and summer. A statistical t-test has been done to identify the statistically significant variables @ 90% confidence interval. Based on the developed models, in summer, three contributing factors, driving too fast condition, rear-end crashes, and followed too close are associated with younger drivers injury severity, while two contributing factors, rear-end crashes and followed too close are associated with older drivers injury severity. In winter, five factors, made an improper turn, E Failed to Yield Right-of-Way from Traffic Signal, rear end (front to rear), gender like male and lighting condition like dark and dusk light condition, are associated with younger drivers injury severity, while three factors such as made improper turn, rear-end crashes, and followed too close are associated with older drivers injury severity. Contributing factors in summer are the same for both younger and older drivers, but different in winter for both younger and older drivers. This indicates that older drivers and younger drivers are affected differently both in summer and winter.

An analysis on older driver＇s driving behavior by GPS tracking data： Road selection, left/right turn, and driving speed

With the high older-related accident ratio and increasing population aging problem, understanding older drivers＇ driving behaviors has become more and more important for building and improving transportation system. This paper examines older driver＇s driving behavior which includes road selection, left/right turn and driving speed. A two-month experiment of 108 participants was carried out in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Since apparently contradictory statements were often drawn in survey-based or simulators-based studies, this study collected not only drivers＇ basic information but also GPS data. Analysis of road selection demonstrates that older drivers are reluctant to drive on expressway not only in short trips but also in long trips. The present study did not find significant difference be- tween older drivers and others while turning at the intersections. To investigate the impact factors on driving speed, a random-effects regression model is constructed with explan- atory variables including age, gender, road types and the interaction terms between age and road types. Compared with other variables, it fails to find that age （60 years old or over） has significant impact on driving speed. Moreover, the results reflect that older drivers drive even faster than others at particular road types： national road and ordinary municipal road. The results in this study are expected to help improve transportation planning and develop driving assistance systems for older drivers.

汽车界面适老优化设计研究

为减轻老年人驾驶负担,提出可用性大的汽车界面设计建议。本研究采用可用性测试方法,首先选取测试原型和设计任务,邀请6名老年驾驶人参与静态测试。测试完成后,采用SUS量表和满意度指标进行评价,以指出可用性问题。基于此,提出汽车界面适老化设计原则,对设计方案进行了适老优化设计,并验证了优化效果。老年驾驶人对汽车界面的可用性、满意度较小,需要进行优化设计。本项研究可以大大缩短老年驾驶人界面使用时间,提高老年驾驶人界面操作成功率。可用性测试可以作为汽车界面的优化设计的方法,设计师应注重对功能任务、页面布局、色彩搭配、图标认知度等方面的优化,提高可用性与满意度。

老年驾驶人驾照管理国际经验及启示

随着机动化和老龄化程度的提升,我国老年驾驶人群体呈现出总数大、增速快、驾车出行需求强的特点。为提高我国老年人交通安全水平,从老年驾照认证年龄、认证周期、驾驶人健康状况检测、驾驶技能检测、驾照权限等方面出发,探讨多个老龄化国家的老年驾驶人驾照管理模式。借鉴国际经验,结合我国老年驾驶人发展趋势,从提高老年人健康检测标准、开展老年驾驶理论与技能培训、实施差异化驾照权限3个方面提出我国老年人驾照管理的改善策略,有助于推动我国老年驾驶人驾照管理体系全面发展,提高老年驾驶人的安全,保障老年人的出行需求。

Old, Diseased and Unfit to Drive a Motor Vehicle? An Evidence-Based View on Risk Factors among Senior Drivers in Germany

The present study aimed to identify risk factors among older adult drivers from realistic data in order to stimulate the development of appropriate safety measures in the future.For this purpose,N=400 archived case files from the driving authority in Dresden(Germany),were systematically analysed.The risk criterion was the outcome of the fitness to drive(FTD)assessment required by the authority.The results show that there are several significant risk factors(aged over 80,dementia,multi-morbidity and involvement into complex accidents)that can serve as cues for being unfit to drive.The practical measures for enhancing traffic safety are discussed.

汽车老年驾驶人特性及行为研究进展

为全面认识老年驾驶人的驾驶特征,分析其驾驶行为,从老年驾驶人交通事故致因和心理、生理等因素,梳理国内外老年驾驶人特性及行为的研究成果,总结主要研究内容和方法,并展望其未来研究趋势。结果表明:造成老年驾驶人交通事故的因素主要包括个人因素和道路环境因素,同时性格态度、自我评价等心理特征和认知功能、视听觉等生理特征也影响驾驶行为。总体上,老年驾驶人的驾驶特征及行为研究,内容精确丰富,方法科学完善;而对老年驾驶人驾驶能力评估的研究,则重点关注在综合统计学和心理学等方法的基础上,构建具体度量模型,用以评价和预测其驾驶能力。

老年人驾驶反应行为分析

本文对老年驾驶员的驾驶行为进行测试,并与年轻组驾驶员比较。结果表明老年驾驶员驾驶反应能力较年轻驾驶员差(p<0.01);由于年龄的增长,老年人的生理机能在不同程度上发生衰退,老年驾驶各种反应能力等均受到影响。本文主要研究老年人安全驾驶的反应行为指标体系。为制定老年驾驶员安全管理提供参考依据。

老年驾驶员跟驰行为及影响因素研究

为提高老龄化背景下道路交通的安全性,基于驾驶模拟试验数据,分析老年驾驶员的跟驰行为特征,并深入研究驾驶员跟驰行为的影响因素。选取车头间距、速度和反应时间作为驾驶员跟驰行为的表征指标,通过对比老年驾驶员与年轻驾驶员跟驰行为的差异,分析老年驾驶员的驾驶特征;进一步采用Pearson相关系数法研究跟驰行为与驾驶员年龄、驾驶负荷和驾驶偏好的关系。研究结果表明:相较于年轻驾驶员,老年驾驶员对前车紧急制动行为的反应时间较长,行驶速度的变化较大,且保持较大的车头间距。驾驶员的跟驰行为与年龄、驾驶负荷得分以及驾驶偏好显著相关。

老年驾驶人有效视野测试研究

老年驾驶人的驾驶能力会出现增龄性衰退,有效视野测试可用于老年人视觉注意能力及驾驶安全性的测试和评价。在分析了有效视野测试理论及应用发展的基础上自主设计开发了有效视野测试方法及软件,选取了中、青、老年共38名受试驾驶人进行了测试实验,并分析了不同驾驶人的有效视野测试结果及其影响因素。结果表明:老年驾驶人的平均处理速度比中青年驾驶人慢,同时随着年龄的增加反应能力有减退的现象;中、青、老年驾驶人均将多数视觉注意分配在中心区域,尤其是老年驾驶人对外围视觉信息的获取的能力出现了下降的趋势。最后利用差异性分析对有效视野测试分析结果进行验证,得出了驾驶人的视野能力增龄性减退情况明显,各年龄段差异显著的结果。

Study of older male drivers’driving stress compared with that of young male drivers

In this study,older male drivers’stress while driving in straight links and while proceeding through intersections is investigated.Controller area network(CAN),self-reported stress(SRS),and physiological data was collected in 22.4 km-long experimental trips among older and young drivers.First,this study finds that older drivers reported much less stress than young drivers.However,principal components(PCs)of the physiological data demonstrate that older drivers might underrate their driving stress in entire trips,except regarding turning at intersections.Moreover,following other vehicles reduced older drivers’driving stress because preceding vehicles might help them control driving speed,detect the path,and prevent road risks.In contrast,the similar condition increased the stress level of young drivers.The results of random effects regression models confirm that age was the significant impact factor on SRS and physiological data.While examining whether the stress at intersections could affect their driving behaviors,significant difference between two age groups was found neither in turning time nor in the driving speed.This study also confirms that physical and mental changes with aging can negatively affect older adults’behaviors.Considering the relationships among stress,speed,and accidents,we suggest the provision of more driver assistance systems,training,and education and improving intersection design for older drivers.

基于多源信息融合模型的高龄驾驶员安全性评估方法研究

针对老年人驾驶中遇到的问题,本文设计了一个适合于高龄驾驶员的辅助驾驶系统。首先分析了高龄驾驶员驾驶行为随着驾驶速度和持续驾驶时间的关系。接着,结合路面信息和驾驶行为的特征,采用模糊信息融合方法给出了驾驶环境安全度的综合评价。通过模糊信息融合推理,可以使高龄驾驶员对自己的驾驶行为和周围状况有一个全面的认识。随后通过对驾驶行为和事故日志的挖掘,寻找不同驾驶员的特征,通过调整推理规则,提供适合于不同驾驶员的评价。本文所设计的辅助驾驶系统充分考虑了高龄驾驶人员的行为特征,实时为高龄驾驶者提出驾驶行为调整策略,全面提升高龄人员驾驶行为的安全性和舒适性。

无信号控制交叉口老年驾驶人转向行为图谱研究

考虑到老年驾驶人存在的视觉弱化、反应能力下降等问题,有必要分析其转向行为特征。基于此,本文分析了在无信号控制交叉口情景下老年驾驶人的转向行为特征,并绘制图谱描述行为特征的时序变化。基于无信号控制交叉口的现实场景调查,搭建了具备常见冲突类型的虚拟仿真驾驶场景(包含6个无信号控制交叉口),招募符合要求的老年驾驶人与中青年驾驶人进行驾驶模拟实验,分别采集车辆行驶数据(驾驶模拟器)、眼动数据和生理心理数据分析老年驾驶人与中青年驾驶人在不同转向场景下的行为特征差异,应用图谱理论构建驾驶人转向行为图谱描述老年驾驶人与中青年驾驶人的转向行为特征时序变化。实验结果表明:老年驾驶人的速度均值为20.4 km/h、注视持续时间均值为289.47 ms、扫视幅度均值为3.51°;中青年驾驶人的速度均值为35.79 km/h、注视持续时间均值为247.94 ms、扫视幅度均值为4.56°。老年驾驶人的心率变异性时域指标(SDNN和RMSSD)与频域指标(LF/HF和TP)的值更低,表明老年驾驶人在转向过程中更加紧张。图谱显示老年驾驶人的紧张持续时间更长,并在信息获取广度上弱于中青年驾驶人。结合图谱时空差异性指标发现,这2类驾驶人的驾驶行为在左转向场景下存在显著性差异,老年驾驶人驾驶操作的稳定性与安全性较低。

驾驶人群体刻板印象威胁研究进展

为全面认识驾驶人群体的刻板印象威胁,论述了驾驶人刻板印象威胁研究目前主要存在的问题及今后研究方向.结果表明,老年和女性等特殊驾驶人群体存在刻板印象威胁,在一定情境下会影响该群体的驾驶表现.通过干预措施或策略会缓解或消除驾驶人刻板印象威胁作用效果,但驾驶人刻板印象威胁影响机制和干预方法作用机制有待进一步研究.

Examination of Experimental Method to Extract Characteristics of Lower Limb Movement in Emergency Braking Operation

The purpose of this study is to clarify the driving behavior and reaction pattern peculiar to the elderly. In this paper, we conducted a brake operation experiment with five young people, and aimed to create an evaluation index and an experimental method that can extract the characteristics of emergency brake operation from pedaling force and lower limb movement. The results showed that in order to operate the brakes strongly and quickly, the knee was firmly flection, and then the pedaling force was increased when the knee was extended. Furthermore, it was shown that if the brakes were operated without moving the ankle joint, the operation would be quicker.

老年驾驶人在交叉口的视觉特性

机动车驾驶人主要通过视觉搜索行为获取交通信息,为了分析老年驾驶人进入道路交叉口的视觉特性,建立了5个道路交叉口的虚拟场景,并进行了驾驶模拟试验,采集了21名老年驾驶人和17名中青年驾驶人进入交叉口的眼动数据。应用动态聚类法将驾驶人的视野平面划分为5个注视区域;在此基础上对比分析了2组驾驶人进入交叉口的注视特性、扫视特性、注视转移概率和注视平稳分布概率;并通过灰色关联度矩阵分析了影响注意转移行为的因素。分析结果表明:老年驾驶人对非行驶方向上的注视区域的注意都相对较差,2组驾驶人的注视持续时间、扫视幅度和扫视平均速度存在较大的差异,其中老年驾驶人的扫视幅度和扫视速度明显低于中青年驾驶人,而且老年驾驶人的注视点分布在车辆正前方区域的平稳分布概率为80.7%,比中青年驾驶人的69.3%高11.4%,并且具有显著性差异,说明老年驾驶人注视转移模式的灵活性相对中青年驾驶人较差。

风险情境下老年驾驶人行为特性研究

为研究风险情境下老年驾驶人与中青年驾驶人行为特性的差异,并确定老年驾驶人的眼动、心理生理、驾驶操作及风险感知等各类行为特性的衰退情况;选取19位老年驾驶人和19位中青年驾驶人作为试验对象,应用眼动仪、生理仪及驾驶模拟平台开展驾驶模拟试验;采集5种风险场景下2组驾驶人的眼动、心理、生理、操作行为与车辆运行数据;对比分析2组驾驶人的注视及扫视等眼动行为特性、心率变异及皮电等心理生理行为特性、制动及转向等操作行为特性、风险反应及敏感度等风险感知行为特性。试验结果表明:2组驾驶人的各类行为特性均随风险等级的增加呈现一定的规律性变化,随着风险等级的增加,2组驾驶人的注视持续时间、皮电均值及增长率、心率增长率和风险敏感度亦随之增加,而扫视、心率变异指标SDNN、制动时间及风险反应时间等指标随风险等级的增加而下降;上述指标的规律性变化说明驾驶人对风险的关注度和敏感度随着风险自身危险性的上升而不断增加,进而做出的反应也就越早,同时伴随着心理紧张程度增加,需要付出的努力也越大,与年龄的高低无关;另一方面,老年驾驶人的各类行为特性出现明显的衰退且与中青年驾驶人存在显著差异,其中老年驾驶人的注视持续时间、扫视幅度、扫视速度等眼动指标分别衰退了37.83%、27.58%、23.80%,皮电均值、心率增长率和SDNN心理生理指标分别衰退了57.67%、20.08%和29.14%,转向熵、车速控制和制动反应时间操作行为指标分别衰退了32.81%、20.34%和49.48%,风险敏感度、判断阈值和风险反应时间风险感知指标分别衰退了13.70%、8.66%和31.80%。通过对风险情境下老年驾驶人的各类行为特性进行详细分析,确定了老年驾驶人各类行为的衰退情况,对老年驾驶人行为特性的研究具有一定借鉴意义。

老年驾驶人的驾驶自我调节研究述评

随着社会人口老龄化的发展,老年驾驶人的占比逐年增加,提升老年人的驾驶安全性对于其安全自主出行和公共交通安全均具有重要意义。驾驶自我调节是老年驾驶人为适应身体、认知功能变化而对驾驶行为做出的主动调整,是其提升驾驶安全性、延长驾驶生命和维持自主行动能力的有效补偿策略。通过对已有关于老年驾驶人的驾驶自我调节研究进行系统回顾,介绍了老年驾驶人的驾驶自我调节行为的定义及其表现,归纳分析了其驾驶自我调节行为的影响因素及产生机制,在此基础上总结了现有研究的局限,并指出了未来进一步研究的主要思路和方向。对文献的梳理和分析表明:老年驾驶人的驾驶自我调节包括减少驾驶频率和回避具有挑战性的驾驶情境2种主要形式,并可分为策略性、战术性和生活目标性自我调节3种不同的层次水平;驾驶自我调节是一个复杂的过程,社会人口因素、生理健康和功能状况、心理因素等均可对其产生影响;驾驶自我调节的产生机制可以被概括为是个体从认知到态度改变,再到形成调节行为意向,直至最终发生驾驶行为改变的动态决策过程。未来对老年驾驶人的驾驶自我调节行为研究应更进一步将客观驾驶行为数据、医疗机构数据与驾驶人主观自我报告相结合,适当开展追踪研究,考察驾驶自我调节行为随年龄的发展变化趋势,深入探究驾驶自我调节的产生机制及其在降低事故发生和提升驾驶安全性方面的作用。