Table Of ContentDesigning
Transportation Systems
for Older Adults
Human Factors and Aging Series
Wendy A. Rogers
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Given the worldwide aging of the population, there is a tremendous increase in system,
environment, and product designs targeted to the older population. The purpose of this
series is to provide focused volumes on different topics of human factors/ergonomics as
they affect design for older adults. The books will be translational in nature, meaning that
they will be accessible to a broad audience of readers. The target audience includes human
factors/ergonomics specialists, gerontologists, psychologists, health-related practitioners,
as well as industrial designers. The unifying theme of the books will be the relevance and
contributors of the field of human factors to design for an aging population.
Designing Transportation Systems for Older Adults
Carryl L. Baldwin, Bridget A. Lewis, Pamela M. Greenwood
Designing for Older Adults
Principles and Creative Human Factors Approaches, Second Edition
Arthur D. Fisk, Sara J. Czaja, Wendy A. Rogers, Neil Charness, Sara J. Czaja,
Joseph Sharit
Designing Displays for Older Adults
Richard Pak, Anne McLaughlin
Designing Telehealth for an Aging Population
A Human Factors Perspective
Neil Charness, George Demiris, Elizabeth Krupinski
Designing Training and Instructional Programs for Older Adults
Sara J. Czaja, Joseph Sharit
Designing Technology Training for Older Adults in Continuing Care
Retirement Communities
Shelia R. Cotten, Elizabeth A. Yost, Ronald W. Berkowsky, Vicki Winstead,
William A. Anderson
For more information, please visit: www.crcpress.com/Human-Factors-and-Aging-Series/
book-series/CRCHUMFACAGI
Designing
Transportation Systems
for Older Adults
Carryl L. Baldwin
Bridget A. Lewis
Pamela M. Greenwood
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
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Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
© 2019 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Baldwin, Carryl L., author. | Lewis, Bridget A., author. | Greenwood,
Pamela M., author.
Title: Designing transportation systems for older adults / by Carryl L.
Baldwin, Bridget A. Lewis, and Pamela M. Greenwood.
Description: Boca Raton : Taylor & Francis, a CRC title, part of the Taylor &
Francis imprint, a member of the Taylor & Francis Group, the academic
division of T&F Informa, plc, 2019. | Series: Human factors and aging series |
Includes bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019006049| ISBN 9781482244717 (paperback : alk. paper) |
ISBN 9780367255404 (hardback : alk. paper) | ISBN 9780429162336 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Older people--Transportation. | Roads--Design and
construction. | Roads--Safety measures. | Pedestrian facilities design. |
Autonomous vehicles.
Classification: LCC HQ1063.5 .B35 2019 | DDC 305.26--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019006049
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
http://www.taylorandfrancis.com
and the CRC Press Web site at
http://www.crcpress.com
For Raja,
… who contributed much to our understanding of people over
the age of 65, yet sadly did not get to experience it himself.
Contents
Preface ..............................................................................................................xiii
Authors ..............................................................................................................xv
Chapter 1 Introduction and scope ..............................................................1
1.1 Population aging ......................................................................................4
1.2 Mobile but less active lifestyles .............................................................5
1.3 Lifestyle factors ........................................................................................5
1.4 Importance of mobility ...........................................................................5
1.5 Modes of transportation .........................................................................7
1.6 More drivers driving more miles ..........................................................7
1.7 A global priority ......................................................................................8
1.8 Personas of older adults ..........................................................................8
1.8.1 Joe Green using a navigation system while on vacation .....8
1.8.2 Gertrude the older rural driver .............................................10
1.9 Overview of this book...........................................................................11
Recommended readings ..................................................................................13
Chapter 2 Mobility and quality of life ....................................................15
2.1 Defining quality of life ..........................................................................15
2.2 Defining mobility ..................................................................................17
2.3 Leisure activities in older age ..............................................................18
2.4 Driving cessation and maintaining social connections ...................18
2.5 Quality of life and mobility in cities ...................................................21
2.6 Urban design ..........................................................................................22
2.7 Health-care maintenance......................................................................23
2.8 Independence .........................................................................................24
2.9 Transportation needs and challenges .................................................24
2.10 Design recommendations .....................................................................24
Recommended readings ..................................................................................25
Chapter 3 Sensory, cognitive, and physical challenges of aging
specific to transportation .........................................................27
3.1 Peripheral changes ................................................................................27
3.1.1 Vision .........................................................................................27
vii
viii Contents
3.1.2 Contrast sensitivity ..................................................................28
3.1.3 Temporal resolution ................................................................29
3.1.4 Motion processing and gap detection ..................................30
3.1.5 Glare and night vision ............................................................30
3.1.6 Color ..........................................................................................31
3.1.7 Useful field of view .................................................................31
3.1.8 Macular degeneration and cataracts .....................................31
3.1.9 Hearing ability .........................................................................32
3.1.9.1 Speech processing ...................................................32
3.1.9.2 Sound localization ..................................................33
3.1.10 Taste and smell .........................................................................33
3.1.11 Tactile.........................................................................................33
3.2 Dual-sensory impairment ....................................................................34
3.3 Cognitive changes .................................................................................34
3.3.1 Attention ...................................................................................35
3.3.2 Speed of processing .................................................................35
3.3.3 Working memory .....................................................................36
3.3.3.1 Spatial working memory .......................................36
3.3.3.2 Multitasking ............................................................37
3.3.4 Long-term memory .................................................................37
3.3.5 Decision-making ......................................................................38
3.4 Physical health .......................................................................................38
3.4.1 Medications ..............................................................................39
3.4.2 Sleep ...........................................................................................39
3.4.3 Illness and disease ...................................................................39
3.5 Motor abilities ........................................................................................40
3.5.1 Range of motion .......................................................................40
3.5.2 Strength .....................................................................................41
3.5.3 Balance ......................................................................................41
3.5.4 Psychomotor abilities ..............................................................41
3.5.5 Fitness and training ................................................................42
3.6 Conclusion ..............................................................................................42
3.7 Design recommendations .....................................................................42
Recommended readings ..................................................................................43
Chapter 4 Older adults on the road ..........................................................45
4.1 Crash rates and severity .......................................................................45
4.2 Older drivers make specific errors ......................................................47
4.3 Pedestrian fatalities ...............................................................................48
4.4 Challenges of navigation ......................................................................49
4.5 Self-regulation of driving .....................................................................51
4.6 Fatigue .....................................................................................................52
4.7 Alcohol ....................................................................................................52
4.8 Medication ..............................................................................................53
Contents ix
4.9 Design recommendations .....................................................................53
Recommended readings ..................................................................................55
Chapter 5 Transportation infrastructure ................................................57
5.1 Signs and lights for older drivers ........................................................57
5.1.1 Signs...........................................................................................58
5.1.2 Driver behavior at traffic signs ..............................................60
5.1.3 Traffic lights ..............................................................................61
5.1.4 Automatic road sign detection ...............................................61
5.2 Intersection assistance for older drivers .............................................63
5.3 Problem areas of older drivers .............................................................65
5.3.1 Gap detection and surveillance .............................................65
5.3.2 Run-off-road crashes ...............................................................66
5.3.3 Lane change errors ..................................................................68
5.4 Older drivers and autonomous systems .............................................69
5.5 Heat mitigation at bus and rail stops ..................................................70
5.6 Highway-rail grade crossings ..............................................................70
5.7 Ambient lighting....................................................................................71
5.8 Design recommendations .....................................................................71
Recommended readings ..................................................................................72
Chapter 6 Driver vehicle interfaces and older adults ...........................73
6.1 Display modality ...................................................................................73
6.1.1 Visual .........................................................................................73
6.1.1.1 Clutter .......................................................................74
6.1.1.2 Perceptual grouping ...............................................74
6.1.1.3 Proximity compatibility principle ........................74
6.1.2 Auditory ....................................................................................76
6.1.2.1 Verbal messages ......................................................77
6.1.2.2 Auditory alerts and alarms ...................................78
6.1.2.3 Vibrotactile ...............................................................78
6.1.3 Multimodal ...............................................................................79
6.2 Complexity .............................................................................................80
6.3 Safety systems ........................................................................................81
6.3.1 Passive safety systems ............................................................81
6.3.2 Active safety systems ..............................................................82
6.3.3 Collision avoidance systems ..................................................82
6.3.4 Blind-spot indicators ...............................................................82
6.3.5 Rearview backup assist ...........................................................83
6.3.6 Parking assist (proximity sensors) ........................................83
6.4 Driver support systems .........................................................................83
6.5 Displays ...................................................................................................83
6.5.1 Menu structure ........................................................................83
6.6 Controls ...................................................................................................83
