This document describes the results of survey research undertaken by the Automobile Club of Southern California. Five technology-specific surveys were conducted with mail-out questionnaires. A total of 40,000 questionnaires were mailed to insurance customers who own vehicles that may have in-vehicle navigation systems, adaptive cruise control, advanced headlamps, electronic backing aids, or rear-view video cameras as standard or optional original equipment. Half of the questionnaires were mailed to vehicle owners who were 25 to 64 years old, and half of the questionnaires were mailed to owners who were 65 or older. The response rate varied for the five technology-specific surveys from 16.6 percent (adaptive cruise control) to 30.7 percent (sensor-based backing aids). Survey items addressed topics such as learning to use the system, behavioural adaptation, system effectiveness, and perceived safety of the system. This report highlights differences in responses between younger and older respondents and compares responses to the five targeted technologies. This report also describes a series of 18 interviews that were conducted with representatives of original equipment manufacturers, regulators, medical practitioners, and professionals in the senior advocacy area. These interviews focused on emerging in-vehicle technologies that may help older drivers. (Author/publisher)
Abstract