Psychological and pedagogical factors that determine the need for self-education of elderly drivers.

Temnyakov Dmitrii Aleksandrovich PhD in Pedagogy Deputy Head of the Department of Organization of the Work of Road Traffic Safety Protection Units of the V. Ya. Kikot Moscow University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia 143100, Russia, Moscow region, village Staroteryaevo, Staroteryaevo, 1 Dima-terjewo@rambler.ru Other publications by this author

Grigor'ev Ivan Aleksandrovich Lecturer, Department of Organization of activities of road safety units, Moscow Regional Branch of the Moscow University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia named after V.Ya. Kikot. 143402, Russia, Moscow region, Krasnogorsk, Zheleznodorozhny ave., 5, sq. 20 gribug@mail.ru

The State is responsible to all citizens for a safe environment on the roads, public authorities are obliged to inform about the circumstances of various changes on the roads. The legislation of Russia declares the priority of the obligations and responsibilities of the state to citizens in the field of road safety.

As of 2022, 53.86 million vehicles subject to registration are registered in Russia, which is 440 vehicles per 1,000 people, that is, almost every second person in our state has a vehicle. Of these, passenger cars - 45.39 million, trucks - 3.72 million, motorcycles and other motor vehicles - 2.13 million, buses - 0.41 million ^[1]. In 2022, about 1.36 million people received driver's licenses ^[2]. Of course, based on the data provided by the statistics, it is impossible to judge the number of road users in our country. Any citizen can acquire the status of a road user on a daily basis and even repeatedly during the day, becoming a driver, pedestrian or passenger of a vehicle.

However, these statistics allow us to imagine the huge scale of the possible number of road users who are required to have legal literacy, know and comply with the rules established for the traffic process, so as not to endanger themselves or other road users.

The driver, as defined by the Rules, is the person driving the vehicle. A vehicle is any device designed to move people: a tram, a car, etc.

A teacher who teaches driving within the framework of special educational activities carried out by the organization is also equated to the driver of a vehicle, despite the fact that the training car is actually driven by a student candidate for drivers. By Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 80 dated 02/20/2021 "On approval of the Administrative Regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation on the provision of public services for conducting examinations for the right to drive vehicles and issuing driver's licenses", the procedure for conducting a practical examination for the right to drive a vehicle is regulated. An employee of the State Traffic Inspectorate is involved in the examination process. The examiner monitors the progress of the candidate's tests, gives commands to the examinee, fixes errors in the examination sheet, and gives a final grade. The examiner has backup controls and, in the event of a dangerous emergency situation, is obliged to intervene in the process of driving a vehicle, take measures to prevent a threat to the safety of road users. Of course, the student candidate for a vehicle driver is actually a road user.

The law includes in the circle of "drivers" such categories of road users as a drover of animals (herds); a person driving a horse-drawn cart. The definition of a teamster and a driver of a horse-drawn carriage in the category of drivers raises doubts about the terminological nature. And the driver (coachman, packer, kayur, drover)  and the person driving the horse-drawn carriage, although he carries out his own meaningful movement of himself personally and manages the herd harnessed to the animal, however, they cannot actually be fully responsible for the actions of these animals, which may have unpredictable behavior. The drover may not be on a vehicle or in a vehicle, but may drive the herd on foot. However, the Rules of the Road define the procedure for these road users in separate provisions, for example, paragraph 25 of the Rules describes "Additional requirements for the movement of horse-drawn wagons, as well as for the running of animals." In our opinion, these persons should not be called drivers, they represent "other road users".

Modern society is faced with a growing number of elderly drivers who continue to use motor vehicles as their main means of transportation. With the increasing participation of older drivers on the roads, their share in accidents inevitably increases. In addition, as physical vulnerability increases with age, accidents involving older drivers are more likely to result in serious injuries and deaths. Despite the difficulties in predicting future events, there are obviously grounds for serious concern. In addition, studies indicate a possible increase in risk for drivers with age. However, so far the actual data on the age-related increase in the number of accidents are inconclusive for two reasons. First, much of what appears to increase drivers' risk with age is related to the bias inherent in measuring risk. Secondly, the problem is not age, but determining which older drivers are at increased risk due to illness or age-related loss of functionality. According to statistics, the largest number of accidents (21,794, or 25.7%) were committed by drivers in the age group from 30 to 40 years old. In such incidents, the largest number of deaths was also noted ^{[3, p. 17]}. (2,402, or 27.2%) and wounded (28,578, or 25.9%). We do not claim that older drivers are more likely to get into accidents in other categories, since an increase in accident rates has been noted in almost all age groups. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to the significant increase in the number of accidents (+55.7%) committed by persons driving a vehicle and aged less than 18 years. There was also an increase in the number of deaths (+18.6%) caused by drivers aged 18 to 21 years. The vast majority of such drivers are inexperienced drivers. However, it should be noted that the greatest severity of the consequences is characterized by accidents committed by drivers of the age groups from 50 to 60 years and over 70 years. In addition to the age characteristics of driving a vehicle, it is necessary to consider the driving experience. In the indicators of road traffic accidents in the Russian Federation for 9 months of 2023, it is noted that the number of accidents (+3.1%, 5,638) committed by drivers with less than two years of driving experience, as well as deaths in such accidents, increased by 4.4% (7,971). All the main accident rates due to the fault of drivers with experience of driving a vehicle from 2 to 5 years and over 15 years have increased. As part of our study, it is necessary to pay attention that the majority of road accidents (25.7%, or 21,799) were committed by drivers with more than 30 years of driving experience, 2,588 (29.3%) died in them and 27,735 (25.1%) people were injured ^{[3, p. 18]}. There is a tendency to distribute the severity of the consequences of an accident depending on the length of service of the drivers responsible for the accident. As the length of service of drivers increases, the importance of the severity of the consequences of the accidents they have committed increases. So, for novice drivers (with up to two years of driving experience), the value of this indicator was 5.6, and for drivers with more than 30 years of experience – 8.5. Due to the fact that the absolute accident rates, depending on the age or length of service of drivers guilty of committing an accident, largely depend on the number of drivers of the corresponding age groups and groups with different vehicle management experience, it is advisable to evaluate drivers by age and experience by considering their guilt coefficient. In this case, the culpability coefficient shows the proportion of accidents caused by drivers of the appropriate age category and with a certain experience of driving a vehicle, from the total number of accidents involving them. A high rate of culpability is noted among drivers with less than two years of driving experience. In almost all age groups, its indicator exceeds 60% (the exceptions are drivers aged 16 to 18 years (47.9%) and 45 to 50 years (57.8%). With an increase in driving experience, the guilt rate decreases in all age groups. The lowest values are noted for drivers aged 25 to 55 years who have at least 10 years of driving experience. The average culpability coefficient for these drivers is 51.3%. Relatively high rates of culpability are observed when drivers reach the age of 60. However, it is worth noting that drivers aged 60 to 65 years, with experience of 25 years or more, still differ in slightly lower indicators.

The highest risk group includes drivers aged 65 years and older. The average culpability coefficient for these drivers is 68.8%, that is, these drivers were guilty in almost 7 out of 10 accidents involving them. Moreover, unlike other age groups, drivers of this group, who have a lot of experience, do not differ so much from inexperienced drivers.

Driving a car is a complex activity of daily life that facilitates the performance of other vital functions. Driving is seen by many older people as a necessity and is strongly associated with convenience, mobility and autonomy. Elderly drivers living in remote settlements rate it as the second most important life factor after using a mobile phone. Because of this, older drivers are reluctant to plan to stop driving. Driving has become firmly established in the modern lifestyle, and the current generation of older people uses vehicles much more often than any previous generation

Since the main goal of road safety is to improve well-being in the current environment, it is important to note that accidents are not the only traffic-related health hazard for older people. Restricting the mobility of older people can have a negative impact on their health and well-being. This situation should be taken into account, especially when discussing the prohibition of driving by elderly drivers. With age, a person experiences various physiological and psychological changes that can affect his ability to drive vehicles. In the light of these changes, it is becoming extremely important to develop and carry out special preventive measures aimed at adapting older drivers to new road safety conditions.

Physiological changes in elderly drivers affecting vehicle management are expressed in a decrease in overall physical endurance, impaired vision, muscle weakness and decreased reaction. In this regard, older drivers need to be aware of these changes and take appropriate measures to maintain their health in order to ensure safety on the road.

Psychological factors affecting safety when driving a vehicle associated with age-related changes can be expressed in impaired memory and concentration, difficulty in making quick decisions and managing difficult road situations. Older drivers may also experience anxiety or stress when driving. In this regard, it is necessary to develop special methodological recommendations for elderly drivers as part of preventive work, which will help them develop strategies for psychological resistance to these problems and reduce stress levels on the road ^{[4, p. 23]}.

In the absence of the possibility of implementing a full-fledged professional development program for older drivers, it is necessary to develop special self-study programs. Programs should take into account the physiological and psychological characteristics of the elderly. They may include game directions for teaching changes in traffic rules, features of safe driving techniques applicable without the use of specialized polygons, as well as stress management methods and self-regulation techniques, a set of exercises to increase concentration. In addition, it is possible to provide, as part of preventive measures, the opportunity for elderly drivers to regularly check their eyesight and physical condition to maintain safety on the road.

Preventive maintenance of the safety of elderly drivers within the framework of self-education is impossible without the support of people close to the driver in the direction, therefore it is important to involve the family and the immediate environment in support of elderly drivers. Relatives and close friends can help drivers organize regular medical checkups, provide transportation support, for example, escort on the road or help with route planning. In addition, as part of the implementation of the Active Longevity projects of local governments, the community can organize special events and programs for older drivers, for example, the exchange of experience between drivers, trainings on safe driving or the opportunity to get advice from auto experts and lawyers.

In general, the development and implementation of special self-learning programs for older drivers is an important step to ensure their safety and adapt to changing conditions of the transport environment. Programs should take into account the physiological and psychological characteristics of older people, as well as the characteristics of family and community support. Such an integrated approach will help older drivers maintain and improve their driving skills and improve road safety for all road users ^{[5, p. 131]}.

For the successful implementation of the self-education program for older drivers, it is necessary to take into account their individual needs and characteristics. Some older people may have certain physical or cognitive limitations that will require additional attention and adaptation of the self-study program. For example, for those who have mobility problems, it may be useful to provide information about special devices and modifications of cars that can facilitate the process of driving a vehicle.

It is also worth mentioning the importance of regularly updating the knowledge and skills of older drivers. Traffic rules and technologies are constantly changing, so it is important to provide them with access to information about the latest changes and requirements. This can be through training programs, online courses or information brochures ^{[6, p. 30]}.

In modern society, more and more people remain active and mobile throughout their lives, and this includes their participation in traffic. Cognitive changes in the behavior of older drivers can affect the ability to make decisions and focus on the road. Older drivers may need more time to process information and respond to changing situations on the road. Therefore, it is important to provide them with additional information on safe driving strategies, such as increasing the driving distance and actively monitoring the environment. The use of foreign experience will be useful in the implementation of a self-study program for driving a vehicle by elderly drivers. No matter how complex a system one or another world experience is, it will not "work" unless it becomes an organic element of an even more complex system – an integral domestic experience. It is the domestic experience that is the "hypersystem", where only foreign experience can be included as one of the components ^{[7, p. 68]}. Self-education of older drivers should include adaptation to new technologies and changes in car designs. With the development of the automotive industry and the introduction of new technologies, it may be difficult for older drivers to adapt to modern cars with electronic assistance systems and other innovative features. Therefore, it is important to provide them with an accessible and understandable explanation so that they can use these technologies safely and effectively.

For many older drivers, the driving process is not only a means of transportation, but also a source of independence and self-affirmation. Therefore, it is important to maintain their motivation and confidence, as well as create a friendly and supportive environment. It is necessary to pay attention to the use of modern technologies in cars when implementing a self-learning program. Such as parking assistance systems, collision warning systems, adaptive cruise control and lane control systems can be useful tools to support older drivers and prevent accidents.

In general, the safety of older drivers requires a comprehensive approach, which includes a self-study program, medical examination, improvement of road infrastructure and the use of modern technological assistants.

It is also useful to consider vehicle driving by older drivers in terms of three levels of behavior:

Strategic behavior refers to high-level decision-making related to planning and preparing for a trip. At this level, the driver chooses the direction of travel, determines the place of residence relative to the chosen direction (for example, proximity to friends or family), selects a vehicle, determines the time of the trip and takes into account road conditions, as well as the need to use a seat belt. Decisions at this level are made before the start of the trip and are of a long-term nature.

Tactical behavior is related to making decisions related to the current situation on the road. At this level, the driver chooses the speed of movement, the gaps in the traffic flow and performs the appropriate maneuvers. Tactical behavior helps the driver to navigate the road effectively, avoid dangerous situations and adapt to changing conditions on the road. Decisions at this level are made in real time and are of a medium-term nature ^{[8, p. 41]}.

Operational behavior refers to the details of driving itself and performing maneuvers. At this level, the driver uses methods of scanning the road situation, adjusts the frequency and amplitude of steering wheel turns, changes the speed and performs other aspects related to direct control of the car. Operational behavior requires precision and skill in driving a vehicle. Decisions at this level are made in real time and are of a short-term nature.

Considering self-education programs for older drivers, from the point of view of the three levels of driver behavior presented, it allows older road users to better understand how decisions are made at different levels and how these decisions affect the safety and efficiency of movement on the road. It also helps car and safety designers create technologies and features that support older drivers at each of these behaviors.