Older-Driver Perception of Problems at Unsignalized Intersections on Divided Highways

Abstract

West Virginia has one of the oldest populations in the country. As the Appalachian Development Highway System expands, many older drivers are, for the first time in their driving experience, encountering at-grade intersections on high-speed divided roadways. Because older drivers generally demonstrate an increased accident involvement at at-grade intersections, a study was undertaken to assess understanding by West Virginia’s older drivers of the associated geometric design features and traffic control devices. A self-administered survey was completed by 172 participants at 15 senior centers in counties that have corridor highways within their boundaries. Respondents ranged in age from 50 to 91. Almost two-thirds of the respondents were female. About 44% of respondents indicated that they voluntarily limited their driving, mainly because of difficulties driving at night. Overall, crossing the divided highway was perceived as less difficult than making left turns. Making left turns onto the divided highway was perceived as the more difficult of the turning movements. Approximately one-half of the participants indicated that they did not have problems making left turns onto the divided highway. Large trucks and rudeness or dangerous actions of other drivers were the most commonly cited dislikes about sections of divided highway. Responses indicated a lack of understanding about how to drive through the middle of the at-grade intersection. This issue can be addressed through traffic engineering techniques such as delineation or channelization and through development of driver educational materials.