In-car safety technology survey report

This report, based on the views and experiences of motorists over 55 years old, found that:

• 59% of those people surveyed could not name an in-car safety technology that might keep them driving for longer.

• Those who have most concerns about in-car safety technology have little or no experience of them – those who have the technology are largely very positive.

• Once the technology was explained 91% named one or more technologies to help keep them driving for longer in particular: collision avoidance, blind spot detection/monitoring and night vision.

• A majority of respondents prefer technologies where they retain some control.

Older drivers (aged 55+ years old) in the survey continue to use their vehicles into their later years with 50% of the 85+ year olds stating they are not thinking of giving up driving. Those thinking of giving up their driving licence, it was within 1 – 3 years but for those over 85 years old this was within the year suggesting a quick decline in confidence or ability.

Many older people are concerned about safety while driving which includes concerns about their physical decline as well as the increased demands of busy roads.

Most older drivers surveyed were:
• Not aware of available technologies that might support safer driving in later life.
• Welcoming of in-vehicle information systems.
• Suspicious of fully autonomous technologies, except for use in emergency situations.

Rica proposes usability testing with older drivers as a specific investigation because the human machine interface (HMI) in cars can often provide too many distractions.

Usability testing with older people during product design is common for products with many older customers. Rica believes this can be applied to in-car safety technology, given its potential to provide safer driving for the increasing numbers of older drivers on our roads.

FOOTNOTE
Rica also published at the same time a seperate but related report on this topic, based on a literature review and expert opinion. A link to this report is provided below.