Abstract
The population of older drivers is increasing in size. However, age-related functional decline potentially reduce their safe driving ability and thereby their wellbeing may decline. Fortunately, the forthcoming highly automated vehicles (HAVs) may have the potential to enhance the mobility of older drivers. HAVs would introduce a revolutionary human-machine interaction in which drivers can be completely disengaged from driving, and their control would be required occasionally. In order to inform the design of an age-friendly human-machine interaction in HAVs, several semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 older drivers (mean = 71.50 years, SD = 5.93 years; 12 female, 12 male) to explore their opinions of and requirements towards HAV after they had hands-on experience with a HAV on a driving simulator. Results showed that older drivers were positive towards HAVs and welcomed the hands-on experience with HAVs. In addition, they wanted to retain physical and potential control over the HAVs, and would like to perform a range of non-driving related tasks in HAVs. Meanwhile, they required an information system and a monitoring system to support their interactions with HAVs. Moreover, they required the takeover request of HAVs to be adjustable, explanatory and hierarchical, and they would like the driving styles of HAVs to be imitative and corrective. Above all, this research provides recommendations to inform the design of age-friendly human-machine interactions in HAVs and highlights the importance of considering the older drivers’ requirements when designing and developing automated vehicles.
Highlights
The numbers of older people in the UK and across the world are increasing as is their percentage of the total population, and this trend is predicted to accelerate in the future
Age-related sensory, physical, mental and cognitive functional decline may have a negative influence on their safe driving ability which potentially make older drivers to be more vulnerable to traffic crashes and collisions
This study found that first-hand experience with the highly automated vehicles (HAVs) on the driving simulator helped older drivers to develop a realistic understanding of HAVs and to improve their trust and confidence in HAVs
Summary
The numbers of older people in the UK and across the world are increasing as is their percentage of the total population, and this trend is predicted to accelerate in the future. In 2016, 18% of the population of the UK was aged 65 and older, and the proportion is predicted to increase to 24.7% in 2046 (ONS, 2017). To a great number of older adults, driving is important for them to stay mobile which is closely linked to their health and wellbeing (Gabriel & Bowling, 2004; Metz, 2000). Age-related sensory, physical, mental and cognitive functional decline may have a negative influence on their safe driving ability which potentially make older drivers to be more vulnerable to traffic crashes and collisions
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