Older drivers and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)

Older drivers are over-represented in crash statistics. New partial automation technologies in cars such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) offer an opportunity to improve driver safety, especially in older drivers. However, little is known about how older adults interact with, perceive and trust in ADAS in their cars. While some measures explore technology acceptance or trust in automation, none do so in the context of ADAS and older drivers. A total of 1330 National Seniors Australia (NSA) members and affiliates provided responses to a survey distributed through NSA’s online ‘Connect’ newsletter and NSA’s Facebook page. This survey sought to understand how drivers aged 60 years and older use and interact with ADAS features in their vehicle, including reasons to use/non-use, attitudes and perceptions, and trust towards ADAS. The sample comprised mostly males with an average age of 71.9 years. Conventional Cruise Control was by far the most used feature and Park Assist the least used. Drivers learned about these systems through dealerships or car manuals. Only a small number of drivers report any problems hearing or seeing the ADAS alerts. Older drivers reported concerns around trust and confidence, especially in self-driving cars. Older drivers generally agreed that ADAS features were easy to use, useful, aided in safety and the presence of ADAS features would impact their intention to buy a vehicle.