Intersections

Intersections Are Deadly for Older Drivers

Four Errors Older Drivers Make at Intersections

1 — Not noticing potential conflicts or traffic signs and signals.

2 — Misjudging gaps when crossing traffic

3 — Moving or stopping the vehicle too slowly.

4 — Conducting a visual search poorly.

Intersections Are Deadly for Older Drivers

Compared to drivers in the same age group, the graph below shows that drivers younger than 30 and older than 70, are more likely to have contributed to the crashes, than drivers between 30 and 70.

 

ratio

What We Know About Intersections

A NHTSA study examined two-car crashes in which only one driver was determined to be the primary contributor (for example, ran a stop sign) compared to drivers in the same age group who also were in a crash but did not contribute to the crash. Drivers under 30 and older than 70 were more likely to contribute to the crashes while those in their 30s through 60s were more often not at fault. As intersections become more complex, drivers in their 70s begin showing some increased risk of error, and those in their 80s were clearly having problems. Drivers in their 60s performed like those in their 30s, 40, and 50s.

 

For more information:

Intersection Crashes Among Drivers in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. Download Study

Identifying Behaviors and Situations Associated With Increased Crash Risk for Older Drivers. Download study

Download Study Overview

Source: NHTSA