School of Health Sciences, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden.
Gerontology. 2012;58(2):181-7. doi: 10.1159/000329769. Epub 2011 Aug 25.
Most older drivers continue to drive as they age. To maintain safe and independent transport, mobility is important for all individuals, but especially for older drivers.
The objective of this study was to investigate whether automatic transmission, compared with manual transmission, may improve the driving behavior of older drivers.
In total, 31 older drivers (mean age 75.2 years) and 32 younger drivers - used as a control group (mean age 39.2 years) - were assessed twice on the same fixed route; once in a car with manual transmission and once in a car with automatic transmission. The cars were otherwise identical. The driving behavior was assessed with the Ryd On-Road Assessment driving protocol. Time to completion of left turns (right-hand side driving) and the impact of a distraction task were measured.
The older group had more driving errors than the younger group, in both the manual and the automatic transmission car. However, and contrary to the younger drivers, automatic transmission improved the older participants' driving behavior as demonstrated by safer speed adjustment in urban areas, greater maneuvering skills, safer lane position and driving in accordance with the speed regulations.
Switching to automatic transmission may be recommended for older drivers as a means to maintain safe driving and thereby the quality of their transport mobility.
大多数老年司机随着年龄的增长仍继续开车。为了保持安全和独立的交通出行，机动性对所有人都很重要，但对老年司机尤为重要。
本研究旨在探讨自动变速器是否比手动变速器更能改善老年司机的驾驶行为。
共有 31 名老年司机（平均年龄 75.2 岁）和 32 名年轻司机（作为对照组，平均年龄 39.2 岁）在同一条固定路线上两次进行评估；一次是在手动变速器的汽车中，一次是在自动变速器的汽车中。汽车在其他方面都是相同的。驾驶行为使用 Ryd 道路评估驾驶协议进行评估。测量完成左转弯（右侧驾驶）的时间和分心任务的影响。
与年轻司机相比，在手动和自动变速器汽车中，老年组的驾驶错误都更多。然而，与年轻司机不同的是，自动变速器改善了老年参与者的驾驶行为，表现为在市区更安全的速度调整、更好的操纵技能、更安全的车道位置和更符合速度规定的驾驶。
对于老年司机来说，切换到自动变速器可能是一种保持安全驾驶的推荐方法，从而保持其交通出行的质量。
