HAZARD PERCEPTION IN AUTOMOBILE DRIVERS: AGE DIFFERENCES

Abstract

A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE IF AUTOMOBILE DRIVERS OF DIFFERENT AGES PERCEIVE HAZARDS DIFFERENTLY WHILE DRIVING. NINE FEMALE SUBJECTS RANGING IN AGE FROM 23 TO 29 YEARS AND 11 FEMALE SUBJECTS RANGING FROM 17 TO 22 DROVE OVER A PREDETERMINED COURSE AND REPORTED ALL SITUATIONS THEY THOUGHT TO BE HAZARDOUS. THE YOUNGER GROUP MORE OFTEN REPORTED NON-MOVING OBJECTS, SUCH AS BRIDGES, PARKED VEHICLES, ETC., TO BE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS AS OPPOSED TO MOVING OBJECTS, SUCH AS OTHER VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS. THE OLDER GROUP, ON THE OTHER HAND, REPOTED PERCEIVED HAZARDS AS STEMMING EQUALLY FROM BOTH NON-MOVING AND MOVING OBJECTS. MEASURES OF VEHCILE TRACING REVEALED NO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GROUPS. /AUTHOR/