We can make driving way safer for seniors in busy cities just by planting more trees on the sidewalk.
March 30, 2026
Original Paper
Green Buffering in Lively Streets for Traffic Safety Among Older Drivers
SSRN · 6487605
The Takeaway
Street 'liveliness' creates cognitive overload for elderly drivers, leading to more crashes, but 'green buffering' via tree coverage acts as a specific cognitive filter. This suggests that urban vibrancy and senior safety aren't in conflict if the visual environment is managed with nature.
From the abstract
Street liveliness and trees shape urban sensory experiences but may affect traffic risk for older drivers, who face declines in visual scanning and divided attention. While lively streets increase cognitive complexity, street trees may calm traffic but can obstruct visibility if poorly configured. This study examines how perceived liveliness and tree view factor jointly relate to crashes involving older drivers in Seoul, South Korea. We integrate police-reported crash records (2020–2024), percei