Original scientific paper

Age Affects Drivers’ Response Times

Marjan Bilban ; Institute of Occupational Safety, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Alenka Vojvoda ; Healthcare Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Janez Jerman ; Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

In Slovenia the number of drivers over 65 is increasing every year. With age comes a decrease in psychophysical abilities, which include sensory and motoric functions and the ability of processing visual information. These changes increase the response time and decrease the driving capacity. The aim of this study was to establish a correlation between age and response time and to determine the difference in response times between men and women. In the research participated 573 randomly chosen drivers aged 19–80 with a valid driving license. We measured their response times, when stimulated by a red traffic light, on a simulator. The results clearly demonstrate that a correlation between age and the response time exists. The results show that a significant increase in response times occurs after the age of 65. In all age groups, except the oldest, women achieved longer response times than men.

Keywords

ageing; older drivers; reaction time; response time; driving capacity

Hrčak ID:

40529

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/40529

Publication date:

1.7.2009.

Visits: 1.505 *