Variation of driving skill among elderly drivers compared to young drivers in Japan

This study analyzed driving skill among Japanese elderly drivers compared to young drivers and see which less skilled that might impact road accident risk in highway. Subjects included young and elderly drivers, consisting of 10 college students (20 – 24 years old) and 25 elderly drivers (14 men and 11 women) coming from The Silver Manpower Centre, an organization for elderly > 60 years. Elderly drivers were divided into two age groups, namely elderly 1 aged 60 – 65 years (10 persons) and elderly 2 aged > 65 years (15 persons). Driving performance was evaluated by using driving game simulator in laboratory. Analysis was conducted on consistency in the lane, lane-changing skill, traffic sign compliance, right-turning skill, braking and driving speed. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA test. Generally, performance of elderly 2 was lower than the young almost in all parameters including consistency in the lane (p value < 0.007), traffic sign compliance (p value < 0.011), right-turning skill (p value < 0.001) and braking (p value < 0.001). In the lane-changing skill, young drivers showed significantly higher score (p value < 0.007) than both elderly groups in which elderly 1 (p value < 0.004); elderly 2 (p value < 0.001). The group > 65 years old were likely to be wrong on seeing traffic signs due to visual limitation and long response of compliance.