Response to Hakamies-Blomqvist Lecture

under the aspect of road user behaviour

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StereotypesStereotypes

Older drivers are... too slow anxious hesitating react slowly unpredictable overestimate themselves „Sunday drivers“ can‘t park

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Accident involvement and ageAccident involvement and age(Car drivers in Germany)(Car drivers in Germany)

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How do older drivers compensate for their deficits?How do older drivers compensate for their deficits?

Experience

Skill

Attitude

Technical equipment

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Survey by Ellinghaus et al. (1990)Survey by Ellinghaus et al. (1990)

Older drivers avoid driving during rush hour. They prefer car journeys on motorways and ordinary

roads and drive less in towns. They avoid those larger crossings they have experienced

as dangerous. They prefer driving in well known surroundings. They avoid car journeys during bad weather, twilight and

darkness. They drive shorter distances and and have longer

breaks. Altogether, they prefer a moderate driving speed.

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ExperienceExperience

Older drivers are usually very skilled drivers They discover critical situations quite early They tend to avoid critical situations They increase their attention for the driving task In most situations they choose an average speed

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AttitudesAttitudes

more defensive and more careful lower willingness to take risks higher sense of responsibility in general more self-critical attitude towards their own weaknesses as

compared to younger drivers

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Vehicles with a higher safety standard More comfort than power Simple designed displays Moderate use of IT-equipment

Technical possibilitiesTechnical possibilities

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Countermeasures taken by the publicCountermeasures taken by the public

Constriction of the variance of speed (e.g. by general speed limits and better enforcement),

simple and timely signeage, avoidance of signs which are more distracting than

helpful, better integration of different transportation modes

(e.g. a single pass for different types of transportation),

educating people that the roads should be used for transportation rather than sport.

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