In the last few decades, there’s been a notable rise in the average population age not only in Slovenian but in European and global society as well. Consequently, we’re noticing new challenges emerge in every field, but even more so in the auto industry, since the ability to drive represents an important part of the day-to-day lives of many elderly people. Their mobility is also tangentially related to their health and well-being.
Certain physical, cognitive, and sensory abilities, which tend to deteriorate over time, are necessary for improved safety and easier integration into traffic - lacking in any of those areas increases the vulnerability of the elderly and makes them more accident-prone when it comes to driving.
The market is becoming more and more saturated with automated vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems, which significantly decrease the likelihood of car crashes and other traffic-related accidents by helping the driver keep in control of the vehicle. These systems could be especially useful at keeping the elderly safe in traffic and increasing their mobility despite the aforementioned issue regarding their abilities, brought on by old age.
This thesis aims to analyze, using an online survey, how well older drivers know these advanced assistance systems, whether they use them while driving, and to what degree they find them helpful.
95 people participated in the online survey, most of whom were members of different retiree groups and societies. To participate one had to be above the age of 56. The participants assessed their own knowledge of assistance systems, the degree to which they are familiar with them, how often (if at all) they use them, how many times per week they use their car, and how secure they feel while driving.
The results indicate that, whilst the elderly (for the most part) are not very familiar with assistance systems, they would be willing to use them if they were available to them.
|
