How does older and younger drivers' risk cognition affect the safety performance: A driving simulator study of sudden lane-changing of the leading vehicle

Despite the growth in the number of older drivers and accidents, there is still a lack of clarity about the risk of elderly-related accidents in China. Cognitive function is an important factor affecting driving behavior. This study links cognitive function and driving behavior, aiming to explore the micro cognitive driving behavior characteristics of older drivers. An emergency event of sudden lane-changing of the leading vehicle is set in a driving simulator. 18 younger and 20 older drivers participate in the testing and their driving behavior data are used to build trajectory graphs. It can be observed that older drivers have more risk of behavioral changes. Further, the subjects' collision avoidance responses are divided into perception, judgment, and operation stages to reveal the mechanism of cognitive action on driving response. In contrast to the younger, older drivers have longer braking reaction time, smaller braking speed, larger minimum braking acceleration, and smaller maximum steering wheel speed. Based on these characteristics of older drivers, some age-appropriate vehicle designs and interventions have been proposed to improve their driving safety. This study contributes to better understanding the essence of risky driving behavior of older adults, and provides a basis for the formulation of management measures.