Does Automatic Transmission Improve Driving Behavior in Older Drivers?

proved the older participants ’ driving behavior as demon-strated by safer speed adjustment in urban areas, greater maneuvering skills, safer lane position and driving in accor-dance with the speed regulations. Conclusion: 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. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel In developed countries, driving is seen as an impor-tant symbol of identity and independence [1]. The car en-ables mobility and access to essential services and social activities [2–4]. Consequently, most older drivers contin-ue to drive as they age [5]. However, the complex interac-tion between sensory, cognitive and perceptual-motor processes required for safe driving are vulnerable due to the inherent changes that come with age [6]. Furthermore, as traffic density increases, the complex-ity of the driving task will increase [7]. Driving in complex traffic environments leads to high workload, especially in traffic situations that require interaction with other road users, for example at T-junctions [8]. In these interactive situations, older drivers have fewer cognitive processing Key Word