Has the Time Come for Older Driver Vehicle?

Abstract

The populations of many nations and, indeed, the entire world are growing older. As people age, they are more likely to experience medical conditions and take medications that can make operating a personal automobile more difficult. Once driving abilities begin to decline, older adults are often faced with decreased ability to travel to the places that they both want and need to go, due largely to the lack of non-driving options needed for personal mobility. Thus, due to the preference for and pervasiveness of the personal automobile for satisfying mobility needs, there is a global need to keep older adults driving for as long as they can safely do so. In this synthesis of the literature we explored the question: Has the time come for an older driver vehicle? Great gains in safe mobility for older adults could be made by designing automobiles that take into account, and help overcome, some of the deficits in abilities common in older people. This review provides a background and rationale for an older driver vehicle, including discussions of relevant trends, age-related declines in functional abilities, and the adverse consequences of decreased mobility; discusses research and issues related to vehicle design and advanced technology; explores crashworthiness issues and the unique requirements for older adults; and discusses issues related to marketing a vehicle that has been designed for older drivers. Has the time come for an older driver vehicle? We answer this question with a qualified "yes." There is a global opportunity to improve the safety, mobility, and quality of life of older adults by designing vehicles and technologies that help overcome common age-related deficits. The marketing of these vehicles to older consumers, however, will be challenging and will likely require further market research.

Transportation and Aging: An Updated Research Agenda for Advancing Safe Mobility

“…Considerable progress has been made in developing advanced in-vehicle technologies for improving driver safety, comfort, and mobility. Although there are many ways to categorize in-vehicle technologies, one approach is to divide them into crash avoidance systems (CASs) and advanced driver assistance systems (ADASs; Eby & Molnar, 2014; Eby et al, 2015). CASs are designed to provide warnings about and/or prevent/mitigate potential crashes (e.g., lane departure warning/mitigation, forward collision warning/mitigation, and blind-spot warnings).…”

“…The interaction among driver needs, capabilities, and technology may create issues specific to older drivers. Researchers agree that technology design should take into account the abilities and needs of older adults to enhance their mobility and safety (Eby & Molnar, 2014; Eby et al, 2015; Yang & Coughlin, 2014). Of special interest are changes in driving behavior from use of new technologies.…”

“…Older adults are accustomed to performing driving tasks in certain ways without in-vehicle technologies. When new technologies are introduced, previous skills can change or disappear (Eby & Molnar, 2014; Meyer, 2009; Yang & Coughlin, 2014), which Simões and Pereira (2009) refer to as “behavioral adaptation.” This is beneficial when the technology complements existing driver skills, but becomes problematic when reliance on the technology results in changes in, or loss of, previous skills necessary for safe driving (Jenness et al, 2008; Meyer, 2009; Simões & Pereira, 2009; Yang & Coughlin, 2014). Problems can also result from using technology in an unsafe manner, such as programming a navigation system while driving (Band & Perel, 2007; Jenness et al, 2008).…”

“…Functional changes in vision, cognition, or sensorimotor abilities due to age-related medical conditions can adversely affect the use of in-vehicle technologies (Band & Perel, 2007; Eby & Molnar, 2014; Eby et al, 2015; Jenness et al, 2008; Yang & Coughlin, 2014). Recommendations on technology design to accommodate different functional abilities include providing multimodal sources of information (e.g., visual or auditory prompts), minimizing the complexity of information and steps required to use the technology, and ensuring that information, such as feedback provided by the technology, is accessible and understandable (Band & Perel, 2007; Denaro, Zmud, Shladover, Walker Smith, & Lappin, 2014; Emerson et al, 2012; Simões & Pereira, 2009; Yang & Coughlin, 2014).…”

Ergonomia E Design Do Cinto De Segurança Automóvel: Os Condutores Seniores

“…Atualmente, o automóvel representa um meio primordial de transporte para muitos seniores em inúmeros países (OECD/IRTAD, 2014; Eby & Molnar, 2012;Molnar & Eby, 2009), sendo que o número de condutores, com 65 e mais anos, deverá mais do que duplicar nos próximos 30 anos (NHTSA, 2013). O relatório OECD/ITF (2014) acrescenta que os seniores têm vindo a aumentar a duração e a frequência das viagens de automóvel, sendo esse aumento ainda maior nas faixas etárias superiores aos 75 anos.…”