United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
Abstract
DTFH61-90-R-00062The objectives of this project were: (1) to identify the needs of older drivers and to evaluate the situations in which older driver performance might be improved through enhanced pavement markings and delineation; (2) to identify the range of potentially useful enhanced treatments; (3) to determine the effectiveness of those treatments judged to be most useful for the older driver; and (4) to assess the costs and benefits of the treatment shown to be most effective. Following a literature review to identify older driver deficiencies, 25 delineation/pavement marking treatments (including several "control" treatments) were identified for testing. A laboratory simulator study was used as a means to determine the most effective among the group. The treatments shown to produce better recognition distance, along with several control treatments, were then subjected to field testing. The field tests were conducted on a closed test track facility, and recognition distance and visual occlusion time were used as dependent measures. Of the 66 subjects who participated in the field study, half were over 65 years of age and half were 45 years of age or less. All subjects were involved in both types of measures. Following the field test performance assessment, the treatments were subjected to a cost benefit analysis and recommendations were made regarding the treatments that could benefit older drivers
