An analysis of older-driver involvement in crashes and injury severity in Kansas

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dc.contributor.author Perera, Hewage Loshaka Kumara
dc.date.accessioned 2009-02-27T19:15:59Z
dc.date.available 2009-02-27T19:15:59Z
dc.date.issued 2009-02-27T19:15:59Z
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/2097/1271
dc.description.abstract The older population (>65 years) numbered 36.8 million in the United States in 2005. By 2030, the number is estimated to be 71.5 million, almost twice as many. An increase in the older population means an increase in older drivers as well. As a result of the natural aging process, the possibility of older drivers being involved in crashes and sustaining severe injuries increases, according to past findings. The objective of this study was to identify characteristics of older drivers involved in crashes in Kansas as well as associated safety issues, which can be used to suggest potential countermeasures for improving safety. A detailed characteristic analysis was carried out for older, middle-aged, and younger drivers involved in crashes, using crash data obtained from the Kansas Department of Transportation, and comparisons were made among the groups. However, the characteristic analysis had no basis with regard to injury severity and hence, univariate statistical analysis was carried out to highlight these severities. In addition, a survey was conducted focusing on identifying older-driver behaviors, potential problems, and level of exposure to various conditions. From the severity analysis, it was found that injury severity of older drivers in crashes occurring on rural roads was significantly higher compared to those on urban roads. Therefore, a detailed analysis was carried out using the decomposition method and ordered probit modeling to identify contributing factors leading to the situation. According to the findings, the number of older male drivers involved in crashes was higher compared to older female drivers, even though older driver licensees’ data indicate the opposite. Most of the older-driver-involved crashes occurred under good environmental conditions and at intersections. A majority of older drivers had difficulties associated with left- turn maneuvering and preferred to avoid high-traffic roads and other demanding conditions. Exposure to inclement weather conditions and difficulties associated with merging, diverging, and identifying speeds and distance of oncoming traffic have lead to higher crash propensity. In rural areas, driving in the wrong direction, failing to comply with traffic signs and signals, and speeding were identified as frequent contributing factors in high severe crashes. en
dc.description.sponsorship Kansas Department of Transportation en
dc.language.iso en_US en
dc.publisher Kansas State University en
dc.subject Safety en
dc.subject Older drivers en
dc.subject Injury severity en
dc.subject Survey en
dc.title An analysis of older-driver involvement in crashes and injury severity in Kansas en
dc.type Thesis en
dc.description.degree Master of Science en
dc.description.level Masters en
dc.description.department Department of Civil Engineering en
dc.description.advisor Sunanda Dissanayake en
dc.subject.umi Engineering, Civil (0543) en
dc.date.published 2009 en
dc.date.graduationmonth May en

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