Effect of passenger presence on older drivers' risk of fatal crash involvement.

Objective: To determine the association between passenger presence and risk of fatal crash involvement in relation to driver and passenger age and gender, focusing especially on drivers ages 65 and older.

Methods: Data on US fatal crashes were obtained for 2002-2009. Using the quasi-induced exposure methodology, logistic regression analysis was used to predict the odds of fatal crash involvement as a function of driver age and gender as well as passenger age and gender.

Changes in self-regulatory driving among older drivers over time.

Objectives: The primary goal of the study was to identify to what extent older people modify their driving, what influences them to do so, and how self-regulatory behavior changes over time in relation to changes in perceived impairments and lifestyle characteristics.

Methods: Participants 65 and older (n = 2650) were recruited while renewing their driver's licenses in Connecticut, Kentucky, and Rhode Island and were interviewed by telephone about current driving patterns, recent changes in driving, functional abilities related to driving (i.e.

Views of parents of teenagers about licensing policies: a national survey.

Objective: During the past two decades, many changes in licensing policies have been made in U.S. states, and more are being discussed.

Restricted licensing among older drivers in Iowa.

Objectives: To determine whether Iowa's license restriction program identifies older drivers who appear to be at greater crash risk and to assess compliance with license restrictions.

Methods: A total of 522 drivers 70 and older who were attempting to renew their driver's licenses at licensing offices in Iowa participated in two telephone surveys: one shortly after renewal to discuss driving before renewal and another 6months later to assess any changes. Surveys assessed driving behavior, crashes, and violations as well as self-reported visual impairments, prescription medications, and physical mobility limitations.

National reported patterns of driver cell phone use in the United States.

Objectives: To obtain detailed information on patterns of driver cell phone use, including how often drivers talk and text, the extent to which they use hands-free devices, and knowledge of and reaction to state cell phone laws.

Methods: Telephone surveys were conducted with 1219 drivers in the 48 contiguous U.S.

Cell phone use while driving and attributable crash risk.

Objectives: Prior research has estimated that crash risk is 4 times higher when talking on a cell phone versus not talking. The objectives of this study were to estimate the extent to which drivers talk on cell phones while driving and to compute the implied annual number of crashes that could have been avoided if driver cell phone use were restricted.

Methods: A national survey of approximately 1200 U.

Volvo and Infiniti drivers' experiences with select crash avoidance technologies.

Objectives: Vehicle-based crash avoidance systems can potentially reduce crashes, but success depends on driver acceptance and understanding. This study gauged driver use, experience, and acceptance among early adopters of select technologies.

Methods: Telephone interviews were conducted in early 2009 with 380 owners of Volvo vehicles equipped with forward collision warning with autobrake, lane departure warning, side-view assist, and/or active bi-xenon headlights and 485 owners of Infiniti vehicles with lane departure warning/prevention.

Graduated licensing laws and fatal crashes of teenage drivers: a national study.

Objectives: The objective of the current study was to quantify the effects of the strength of US state graduated driver licensing laws and specific licensing components on the rate of teenage driver fatal crash involvements per 100,000 teenagers during 1996-2007. The strengths of state laws were rated good, fair, marginal, or poor based on a system developed previously by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Methods: Analysis was based on quarterly counts of drivers involved in fatal crashes.

Effects of age and experience on young driver crashes: review of recent literature.

Objective: Although both youth and inexperience contribute to the elevated crash rates of teenage drivers, the relative contribution of these factors has not been firmly established.

Methods: A review was undertaken of eleven recent (1990 or newer) studies that tried to separate the crash effects of age and experience, represented by length of licensure.

Results: The weight of evidence is that age and experience have important, independent effects on crash risk, even after differences in driving mileage are accounted for.

Exploring the declines in older driver fatal crash involvement.

The number of drivers 70 and older is growing at a fast pace, and older drivers are keeping their licenses longer and driving more. Despite these trends, older driver crash deaths and fatal crash involvements declined steadily during the decade 1997-2006 following an upward trend for many years. The present study explored various facets of the decline in older driver fatal crash involvement during 1997-2006.

Characteristics of older drivers who self-limit their driving.

Driver age, gender, medical conditions, and impairments in memory, vision, and physical functioning as predictors of self-limited driving were examined among a sample of 2,650 drivers 65 and older from Kentucky (n=1,337), Connecticut (n=828), and Rhode Island (n=485). Drivers were recruited while renewing their driver's licenses and were interviewed by telephone about their current driving patterns (e.g.

Survey of older drivers' experiences with Florida's mandatory vision re-screening law for licensure.

Purpose: To document the license renewal experiences of Florida drivers ages 80 and older who must pass a visual acuity test when renewing their driver's license.

Methods: Study participants (n = 1,242 drivers) were contacted via telephone and completed a survey regarding their experiences with the license renewal process.

Results: The majority (80.

Crashes of novice teenage drivers: characteristics and contributing factors.

Objective: The initial months of licensure are especially hazardous for teenagers. Factors leading to crashes of novice 16-year-old drivers were identified.

Method: Sixteen year-olds in Connecticut who were involved in nonfatal crashes during the first 8 months of licensure were interviewed, and police crash reports were examined.

Factors leading to older drivers' intersection crashes.

Objectives: Older drivers are overinvolved in intersection crashes compared with younger drivers, but the reasons are not clearly understood. The purpose of the present study was to identify the factors that lead to older drivers' intersection crashes.

Method: Study participants were composed of two groups of older drivers -- ages 70-79 (n = 78) and 80 and older (n = 76) -- and a comparison group of drivers ages 35-54 (n = 73); all were at fault in intersection crashes involving nonfatal injuries.

Changes in driver fatality rates and vehicle incompatibility concurrent with changes in the passenger vehicle fleet.

Objective: With more sport utility vehicles (SUVs) on the road, public concern has been expressed about their influence on traffic safety. The present study examined changes in the mix of passenger vehicles between 1988 and 2004 and concurrent changes in driver fatality rates and vehicle incompatibility.

Method: Vehicle registrations and driver deaths per registered vehicle were examined using data from R.