Valuation of active blind spot detection systems by younger and older adults

Abstract

Due to their disproportional representation in fatal crashes, younger and older drivers both stand to benefit from in-vehicle safety technologies, yet little is known about how they value such technologies, or their willingness to adopt them. The current study investigated older (aged 65 and greater; N = 49) and younger (ages 18-23; N = 40) adults’ valuation of a blind spot monitor and asked if self-reported visual difficulties while driving predicted the amount participants were willing to pay for a particular system (BMW's Active Blind Spot Detection System) that was demonstrated using a short video. Large and small anchor values ($250 and $500, respectively) were used as between subjects manipulations to examine the effects of initial valuation, and participants proceeded through a short staircase procedure that offered them either the free installation of the system on their current vehicle or a monetary prize ($25-$950) that changed in value according to which option they had selected in the previous step of the staircase procedure. Willingness to use other advanced driver assistance systems (lane-departure warning, automatic lane centering, emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and self-parking systems) was also analyzed, additionally controlling for prior familiarity of those systems. Results showed that increased age was associated with a higher valuation for the Active Blind Spot Detection System in both the large and small anchor value conditions controlling for income, gender, and technology self-efficacy. Older adults valued blind spot detection about twice as much ($762) as younger adults ($383) in the large anchor condition, though both groups’ values were in the range for the current cost of an aftermarket system. Similarly, age was the most robust positive predictor of willingness to adopt other driving technologies, along with system familiarity. Difficulties with driving-related visual factors also positively predicting acceptance levels for adaptive cruise control and emergency braking systems. Results are discussed in comparison to older adults’ willingness to pay for other home-based assistive technologies aimed at improving well-being and independence.

Availability, Demand, Perceived Constraints and Disuse of ADAS Technologies in Spain: Findings From a National Study

“…As for the first objective, we found how, in accordance to the global trends observed along the last decade in most of European countries, some ADAS present a high availability, supported on the fact that -due to its proven utility and adaptation to transport dynamics-nowadays are easily involved in vehicle design trends (even in low ranges of vehicles), enhancing their demand by different groups of drivers but, at the same time, opening the discussion on potential implications for the road safety of vulnerable ones [1], [4], such as younger and older drivers [3], [5], [32]. Overall, the most commonly available ADAS features were GPS navigation (40% of on-board availability and 91.3% of demand among drivers), followed by other common technologies such as automatic lighting (39% of availability and 83% of demand) and speed limiters (38.5% and 74%, respectively).…”

“…Other studies such as the performed by Souders et al [1] and Eby et al [33], have shown the significant differences that exist in the valuation of some assisting features between age-based groups, suggesting that the willingness to acquire, adopt and use ADAS should be highly influenced by driver's demographic factors, as suggested in this study when finding that: a) female drivers and tend to value more positively collision mitigation and miscellaneous ADAS, such as automatic and post-collision emergency braking (CM), and smart alerts -obstacle detection systems MAs) than males, and b) drivers aged over 55 years tend to perceive more usefulness in some ADAS features of all types (see Table 2). In brief, various ADAS technologies directly aimed at improving in-trip safety, such as lane departure warning systems still present a considerably high disuse among drivers: the disused when available percentage reaches 22% in Braitman et al [38], in a study performed with North American drivers, and 32.8% for the specific case of Spanish users.…”

“…Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) can be understood as electronic systems intended to enhance humanmachine interaction and increase both vehicle and overall road safety, by means of aiding people while driving. Also, ADAS have been included within the several improvements of the Intelligent Vehicle Technology (IVT), that aim to improve driving experience and protect motor vehicle users from potentially preventable risks and crashes on the road [1]. Different benefits from ADAS, such as timely warnings and autonomously intervening in hazardous situations, undoubtedly constitute an opportunity for the progressive improvement of road safety through the reduction of causalities attributable to human factors [2], [3].…”

Predictors of Attitudes Toward Autonomous Vehicles: The Roles of Age, Gender, Prior Knowledge, and Personality

“…The respondents who had prior knowledge of AV also showed less concern with AV. Souders et al (2017) found that greater familiarity with certain advanced driver assistance systems (lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and emergency braking systems) was predictive of willingness to use these systems.…”

Age-Related Diseases and Driving Safety

“…Some of the movement restrictions in musculoskeletal disorders can be probably mitigated by using modern driver assistance systems, such as the blind spot warner, which can compensate for limited agility in the shoulder and neck area and make changing lanes safer. This technology is used by many older drivers [ 188 ] and usually rated as useful [ 189 ]. Parking assistants can be helpful, as they facilitate parking via sensors and reverse cameras or maneuver the car semi-autonomously into a parking space [ 21 ].…”