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Impact of Passengers on Traffic Safety for Older Drivers: A Study by University of Tsukuba

A research team from the University of Tsukuba has investigated how the presence of a passenger influences the likelihood of traffic accidents involving older drivers. The study utilized comprehensive national traffic crash data collected between 2014 and 2020. The findings suggest that older drivers, including those with cognitive impairments, are less likely to be involved in accidents when they are accompanied by a passenger.

To address incidents involving older drivers, initiatives such as driving lessons and cognitive evaluations during license renewal processes have been commonplace. Recently, strategies have expanded to endorse vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems to enhance safety. Building on earlier research conducted internationally, the researchers acknowledged a recurring trend: older drivers tend to be less prone to accidents when driving with a passenger. Some nations have also introduced conditional licensing requirements, mandating older drivers to have a companion in their vehicle to mitigate risks. The study aimed to explore the hypothesis that older adults with cognitive challenges experience a decreased risk of causing accidents in the presence of a passenger.

The focus of this research was on individuals aged 75 and older who took cognitive assessments and renewed their driving licenses between 2014 and 2017. Participants who were involved in car-to-car collisions within three years post-renewal were categorized as either first party (at-fault drivers) or second party (not-at-fault drivers). The researchers analyzed the relationship between passenger presence at the time of the crash and the drivers’ cognitive assessment results, including those with suspected dementia. Additionally, the influence of gender on passenger presence was also examined.

The results revealed a noteworthy trend: second-party drivers were more frequently accompanied by passengers than first-party drivers, regardless of their cognitive abilities or gender. However, other factors that could be associated with crash risk, such as age, driving history, and environmental conditions during the crash, did not show significant differences in this analysis.

These findings suggest that older drivers, including those identified as experiencing cognitive decline or suspected of having dementia, are less likely to be involved in at-fault accidents when they have a passenger. Although the study does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it emphasizes the potential advantages of having passengers in promoting safer driving practices among older individuals.

This research received support from JSPS KAKENHI under Grant Number 21H03195.

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