Changes in eye movements and driving performance at different intersections as a function of age and turn type

Abstract

This research examined the changes in eye movements and driving performance at different intersection types, as a function of age and turn type. The results showed that when making a right turn, older adult drivers tend to spend less time in scanning the forward direction and more time in observing the right-side view than young adult drivers. Also older adult drivers tend to enter and exit the intersection slower than do young adult drivers. These results imply that older adult drivers are exposed to a much higher risk of car accidents than young adult drivers at a four-way intersection. Paradoxically, the results also imply that older adult drivers tend to be more aware of unexpected situations on three-way intersections, compared to young adult drivers. Relevance to industryThis study provides that elderly drivers are not always exposed to dangerous driving situations, but can cope more effectively in hazardous situation depending on the intersection and turn types than young adult drivers.