Safety Investigation of Elder Drivers and Pedestrians at Roundabouts

Modem roundabouts are being installed on state and local roads in the United States at an increasing rate. Roundabouts can be less expensive to construct and operate than signalized intersections, and their use reduces vehicle delay, while enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the surrounding community. However, while most guides suggest that roundabouts should improve older driver safety, the ability of older drivers and pedestrians to successfully navigate roundabouts has not been thoroughly investigated. A brief literature review has shown that, while researchers are beginning to explore the effects of roundabouts on crash rates and severity in the U.S., little research has looked at the effect of age on those measures. The proposed research aims to examine the following: (1) the growth in modem roundabouts in the state of Florida, including the proximity of roundabouts to communities with high numbers of older adults; and (2) crash rates and severity of roundabout crashes involving older drivers and pedestrians. The study will generate important baseline knowledge on potential problem areas and from the basis for additional interdisciplinary research within the Center, including simulator studies to examine older drivers' and pedestrians' comfort with and level of success navigating roundabouts.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $111800.00
• Contract Numbers:

  DTRT13-G-UTC42

  03317-34716

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  University Transportation Centers Program
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Tucker-Thomas, Dawn

• Performing Organizations:

  Center for Accessibility and Safety for an Aging Population

  Florida State University
  Tallahassee, FL  United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  Spainhour, Lisa

• Start Date: 20140109
• Expected Completion Date: 20141223
• Actual Completion Date: 20141223
• Source Data: RiP Project 36871

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged; Aged drivers; Crash rates; Crash severity; Pedestrians; Roundabouts; Safety
• Geographic Terms: Florida; United States
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01530633
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Accessibility and Safety for an Aging Population
• Contract Numbers: DTRT13-G-UTC42, 03317-34716
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jul 23 2014 1:01AM