This short article briefly surveys the work done at the Vehicle Research Laboratory in Japan into a car design specially adapted for use by elderly people. Brief details are provided of modifications in conventional design which will: a) compensate for declining eyesight, by making the controls easier to see, by improving the drivers' field of vision, and by incorporating vision support systems which can detect obstacles etc. with infrared cameras or by lasers; b) improve ease of operation to counterbalance loss of physical strength; c) provide displays and controls that can be used without much thought, to counterbalance the decline in judgement ability which comes with age; and d) improve accessibility, by modifying the dimensions of doors, removing the door sill, provision of a swivel seat, and increasing the height of the roof. Data are also provided from a test carried out to ascertain the main difficulties which older people have when getting in and out of a car.
Abstract