• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.91-106
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• 2017

PURPOSES : Because elderly drivers are more prone to becoming confused when approaching an urban intersection and thus may yield prolong judgment and decision times than non-elderly drivers, to increase the comfort and safety of the intersection environment for elderly drivers, this study applied autonomous driving tests at an urban intersection to examine their driving characteristics. METHODS : To obtain a more comprehensive understanding of driving features, this study collected drive data of non-elderly drivers and elderly drivers via an autonomous experiment using OBD2 and an eye-tracker, in addition to performing a literature review on the measured visibility range of elderly drivers at intersections. This literature review was conducted considering the general knowledge of elderly drivers having relatively reduced visibility. Additionally, as they are commonly more vulnerable, this study analyzes characteristics of elderly drivers as compared to those of non-elderly drivers. CONCLUSIONS : The results of this study can be summarized as follows: 1) the peripheral visible distance of elderly drivers is reduced as compared to that of non-elderly drivers; 2) elderly drivers approach and proceed through intersections at slower speeds than non-elderly drivers; and 3) elderly drivers yield increased driving distances when performing a right or left turn as compared to non-elderly drivers as a result of their reduced speed and acceleration and larger turning radii relative to non-elderly drivers.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.121-132
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• 2008

Recently, there is a growing interest in promoting safe and convenient roadway and traffic conditions for elderly drivers. This paper analyzed the driving characteristics, self recognition, and any inconvenience of elderly drivers over age 65 through an extensive survey, and drew some action plans to improve the driving conditions for elderly drivers. Survey results showed that the major trip purposes of the elderly driver were found to be commuting(50%) and business(33%), and this pattern was similar to the general drivers. The elderly drivers are interested in "safety", but "brand recognition" was the more important factor for the general drivers in the process of vehicle selection. The elderly drivers had no technical skill difference in driving as compared to the general drivers, but they fully recognized the physical deterioration such as reaction time and sight distance. In addition, the elderly drivers had a tendency to feel psychological contraction as to high workload driving conditions, thus it was necessary to make safe driving conditions by improving the design elements of traffic control devices on the roadways including visibility.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.477-484
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• 2023

The number and age of elderly drivers are continuously increasing according to the extension of the human lifespan. Therefore, in transportation, efforts are being made to differentiate and manage elderly drivers by age group. This study aims to identify the factors affecting the crash severity of early and late elderly drivers, compared to middle-aged drivers, and to identify the characteristics between these groups. Crash data that occurred on nationwide roads for the past 5 years (2017-2021) was applied. Unlike previous studies, this study only targeted drivers in their 40s and older, when presbyopia begins: middle-aged driver (40-64), early elderly driver (65-74), and late elderly driver (75+). As a result of logistic regression analysis, a total of 18 variables were found to affect serious injuries including fatalities in early and late elderly drivers. Most of these variables appeared to lead to severity more sensitively in the late elderly group. The results of this study are expected to be useful as basic information for establishing traffic safety policies for elderly drivers in the future.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.251-271
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• 2009

This research measured a concept of mobility which is included objective travel behavior as well as psychological and physical mechanism that influenced travel behavior. And then, this research examined the relation between mobility and the quality of life in elderly drivers. In research 1, to evaluate the reliability and validity of "Mobility Questionnaire(MQ)", we tested "MQ" to 207 drivers aged 20 years and older. In research 2, we examined the mobility level of elderly drivers. Also we investigated the influence that mobility of elderly drivers impacts on their quaility of life. we used "MQ", "Psychological Well-Being Questionnaire(PWBQ)" to 91 drivers aged 65 years and older. To factor analysis, MQ consisted of 'Safe Driving Ability(ADA)', 'Travel Increase(TI)', 'Travel Decrease(TD)', 'Social Activity(SA)', and 'Driving Situational Adaptability(DSA)'. The amount and speed of driving of elderly drivers reduced driving behavior than other drivers. Also, elderly drivers negatively assessed their physical abilities for safe driving and felt a low confidence in specific driving situation. On the other hand, elderly drivers take parts in social activity constructively. A review of the relation of mobility and quality of life showed that mobility of elderly drivers had positive correlation with PWB. Specially, 'ADA', 'SA', and 'DSA' had significant correlations with PWB of elderly drivers. The mobility of elderly drivers had an effect on 'Autonomy', 'Environmental mastery', 'Self-acceptance', and 'Positive relations with others'.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.107-112
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine elderly drivers' driving performances at the intersections, suggested by Bao and Boyle(2009), according to visual information processing skills. Visual information processing skills of elderly drivers were measured by using the visual working memory task, developed by Min et al.(2006). Seven elderly drivers were divided into two groups(good/poor) depending on the level of visual information processing skills and eleven younger drivers were a contrast group. This study examined the differences of driving performance(i.e., intersection passing times, approach velocities, speed variation and handling variations) among three groups. The results showed that elderly drivers having the poor visual information processing skills passed more slowly through the intersection than the contrast group, and passing times between elderly drivers having the good visual information processing skills and the contrast group was not significantly different. It is suggested that elderly drivers having the poor visual information processing skills use more times when they pass through the intersection, because they don't process a lot of hazardous and latent hazardous factors quickly.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.611-617
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• 2010

To find out why elderly drivers have more frequent traffic accidents on intersection than any other one, this study was conducted to examine the characteristics of elderly drivers' driving behavior on intersection using a multifaceted driving behavior indicator. To do that, the driving behavior of both young adult drivers and elderly drivers were compared and analyzed, using a graphic driving simulator. As a result, compared with young adult drivers, elderly drivers showed a poor driving performance, and a high ratio of visual scanning time on the specific direction regardless of driving situation. Also, compared with young adult drivers, elderly drivers had a high overall level of arousal, and the phasic arousal activity on the specific stimulus was low. These results imply that through the intervention which induces the change in multifaceted indicators mentioned earlier, they could be helped to drive more safely on intersection.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.151-160
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to deduce improvement plan through analysis of the type and characteristics of traffic accidents caused by elderly drivers, and to establish the traffic safety policies for the elderly drivers. The analyzed result of road traffic accident situation are as follows. Firstly, Traffic accidents caused by elderly drivers were frequent on local roads of poor traffic safety facilities such as lighting. Secondly, The most frequent time zone of Traffic accidents caused by elderly drivers was 18:00 to 20:00, this time zone was mainly darkened. Thirdly, Traffic accidents are often caused by lack of attention occurred by no implementation of safe driving. Institutional Improvement of cosideration for elderly drivers and Traffic Safety Facilities maintenance considering regional particularities is needed for reducing traffic accidents and the safety of our society. Their driving skills of elderly drivers should test themselves constantly, and elderly drivers must hold down driving yourself using the alternative transportation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.21 no.5 s.77
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• pp.103-111
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationships between cognitive abilities and driving characteristics of elderly drivers. Driving characteristics of elderly and younger drivers who were driving a fixed base driving simulator vehicle were examined. Participants consisted of 12 drivers over age 65 (the 'older' group) and 12 drivers between the ages of 25 and 55 (the "younger" group). As indices of cognitive ability, critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF) tests and cognitive reaction tests were given before the driving task. CFF was also tested after the simulated driving task for both groups. Cognitive reaction tests, which were composed of speed estimation tests, multiple choice reaction tests and obstacle avoidance tests, were developed by the Korean Road Traffic Safety Authority in 2003. CFF values between the two groups exhibited significant differences both before and after the task, with a p-value less than 0.01 and a t-value of -3.01 before the test and a p-value less than 0.031 and a t-value of -2.35 after the test. Older drivers' CFF values were lower than those of the younger. However, there was no difference in older or younger driver CFF values before and after the task within the same group. Except for the multiple choice reaction test, there was no difference in cognitive reaction test results between the two groups. The elderly drivers made more errors though they did not differ from the younger drivers in reaction times. At the simulated driving task the reaction time of the elderly driver was longer than that of the younger; however, the driving speed of the elderly was lower and the number of collisions greater. There was a positive correlation (r=.496) between the number of errors in the multiple choice reaction test and the number of collisions in the driving task. Therefore, it was identified that critical attributes contributing to automobile crashes involving elderly drivers included cognitive difficulty in judging and responding to complex situations.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.223-231
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• 2020

Older drivers have an increased risk of accidents due to poor function, but they also develop self-regulation ability to check their own changes. Thus, information on whether the actual elderly driver responds to changes in driving ability and risk may provide a meaningful basis for the clinic and research of the elderly's driving ability assessment. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to provide basic data for the evaluation of elderly drivers by analyzing the driving risk self-perception characteristics in terms of driving behavior and function with Korean elderly drivers. A self-reporting assessment was conducted on 500 elderly drivers living in the community and the characteristics of driving risk perception were analyzed. As a result, it was confirmed that many elderly drivers are aware of the driving risk when their vision and hearing are impaired or when they find it difficult to adapt to changes in driving conditions. On the other hand, the characteristics of insensitive reactions to changes in medical health conditions, such as drug use or epilepsy, seizures, and loss of consciousness, were identified. The researcher hopes this study will contribute to the safety management of elderly drivers in Korea, where aging is accelerating.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.137-142
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• 2017

This study deals with the relation between traffic accident and urban decline. The purpose of this study is to develop the regional accident models of elderly drivers. In order to develop the count data models, 2009-2015 traffic accident data from TAAS(traffic accident analysis system) and urban decline data from urban regeneration information system are collected. The main results are as follows. First, the null hypothesis that there is no difference in the accident number between elderly and non-elderly drivers is rejected. Second, 8 accident models which are all statistically significant have been developed. Finally, common variables between elderly and non-elderly are ratio of elderly people, elderly person living alone/1,000 persons and wholesale/retail employments/1,000 persons. This study could be expected to give many implications to making regional accident reduction policy.