Road Type Influences Driving Performance in Young and Senior Drivers

Despite evidence that aging impairs driving performance and safety, its effects across road types remain underexplored. This study examined the effects of age and road type on driving performance. Twenty-six licensed drivers (13 young adults: 21–35 years; 13 older: ≥60 years) completed simulated driving tasks on motorways and highways. Performance metrics included speed limit violations, lane-changing errors, lane maintenance, rolling-off incidents, and crashes. Senior drivers committed significantly more lane-changing errors and rolling-off incidents than younger drivers, while lane maintenance was poorer on highways than on motorways. No significant differences were observed for speed violations or crashes across age groups or road types. Age-related differences in driving performance are task- and context-dependent, with older drivers particularly vulnerable under more demanding roadway conditions. The findings highlight that understanding how age interacts with road type to influence driving performance is critical for identifying deficits and informing interventions that support older drivers.