Assess West Virginia's Older Drivers' Understanding of Traffic Control Devicesand Design Features

摘要

West Virginia has one of the oldest populations in the country. As theAppalachian Development Highway System expands, many older drivers are, for the first time in their driving experience, encountering at-grade intersections on high-speed divided roadways. Since older drivers generally demonstrate an increased accident involvement at at-grade intersections, a study was undertaken to assess West Virginia'' older driver understanding of the associated geometric design features and traffic control devices. A self-administered survey form was completed by 172 participants at 15 senior centers in counties having corridor highways within their boundaries. Almost two-thirds of the respondents were female. Detailed demographic data about age, sex, education levels, and driving characteristics are contained in the report. Among the more significant results are the following: About 44 percent of respondents indicated that they voluntarily limit their driving, mainly because of difficulties driving at night. Overall, crossing the divided highway was perceived as less difficult than making left turns. Making left turns onto the divided highway was perceived as the more difficult of the turning movements.