The author considers major trends in areas that affect automotive ergonomics including the characteristics of vehicle users, changes in vehicle technology, changes in the roadway environment and changes in the broader social environment. The principal human trend will be an ageing population with its concommitant degenerative diseases and medications. Vehicle changes will involve an increase in both the number of features included such as electronic driving aids, and in their complexity. The opportunities and limitations of such devices are considered briefly. Challenges which will be posed by the development of alternative fuels are also described. It is anticipated that the advent of Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems and more traffic management schemes will bring considerable changes. The increasing level of automation and telecommunications and its impact on work and travel patterns is also expected to have an effect.
Abstract