GAINESVILLE, Fla., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Changes in roadway intersection design can keep older drivers safer and on the road longer, according to University of Florida researchers.
"I think the research shows early support that environmental enhancements are conducive to older driver safety and improved performance," said principal investigator Sherrilene Classen. "But what we found is that it didn't just benefit older drivers, it benefited the younger drivers involved in the study, some of whom were between the ages of 35 and 54, which is also the safest group of drivers."
The study, published in Traffic Injury Prevention, showed that the younger and older drivers had enhanced driving performance in intersections with a widened receiving lane for left turns, which provides an extra four feet to the shoulder; right-turn lanes that channel drivers into the flow of oncoming traffic without requiring a complete stop; and intersections that are at a 90-degree angle, rather than a sharper angle, such as 75 degrees.
There are many changes that go hand-in-hand with normal aging such as decreased peripheral vision and slower reaction time, so improving the roads can really benefit older drivers by keeping them on the road longer, according to Classen.
