The AGILE project : problems of older drivers in relation to the driving task

The AGILE project develops a new set of training, information, counselling and driving ability assessment and support tools for older drivers. In order to identify older drivers’ problems in relation to various driving tasks a literature review combined with analyses of international accident databases was carried out. The results provided the basis for the identification of elderly drivers’ problems in relation to a comprehensive framework for driver education. The literature provided evidence of elderly being generally safe drivers. The general approach towards older drivers should be that the vast majority would benefit from continuing driving. For this, a heterogenic older driver population trying to stay mobile and independent until old age by using the car, diagnostic instruments testing practical driving skills of individual older drivers, are urgently required. Reviewed crash databases showed that elderly drivers’ accidents more often occur in daylight, on weekdays and on dry roads. The prototypical old driver crash occurs while crossing an intersection, a situation where fast processing of information from different sources and quick reactions are needed. The results indicate that for elderly drivers, when problems occurred, they were mainly related to mastering of traffic situations.