Development of Pedestrian Simulator for the Prevention of Traffic Accidents Involving Elderly Pedestrians

In Japan, 48.5% of traffic death accidents s related with elderly people. In this study, a device for simulation of road crossing (Pedestrian simulator) was developed to allow people in order to experience "dangerous road crossing" indoor and safely. From this study it became clear that there were great individual variations among elderly people. Even who appear to be healthy with the same ability to avoid danger comparing to their young counterparts but frequently met with accidents during the VR tests. There are many cases where elderly people who easily fall victim to traffic accidents have problems in processing their senses, recognition, judgment or actions.