Acceptability of in-vehicle intelligent transport systems to Victorian car drivers.

A number of in-vehicle ITS technologies with significant potential to reduce the incidence and severity of road trauma are either currently available in Australia or are almost ready to enter the local market. There will be no demand for these systems, however, unless they are acceptable to consumers. To be acceptable, the technologies must be perceived by drivers as being useful, effective, easy to use, affordable and socially acceptable. This report describes the outcomes of a study commissioned by the RACV to assess the acceptability to a sample of Victorian car drivers of seven in-vehicle ITS technologies: Forward Collision Warning; Intelligent Speed Adaption; Emergency Notification ("Mayday") system; Electronic Licence; Alcohol Interlock; Fatigue Monitoring; and Lane Departure Warning. This was achieved by conducting eight focus groups involving a total of 52 Victorian drivers varying in age from 18 to 83 years who, from examination of Victorian crash data, were likely to derive the greatest safety benefit from these technologies. For each of the systems discussed, the critical concerns raised by participants which are likely to deter them from purchasing and using the systems were identified. Estimates were also made of the annual savings in crash numbers and costs associated with the deployment in Victoria of the ITS technologies discussed in the focus groups. These estimates were calculated for the types of crashes that the technologies would most strongly benefit. Overall, the Alcohol Interlock was predicted to lead to the greatest reduction in crash numbers and costs, followed by the Electronic Licence and Intelligent Speed Adaptation. Paradoxically, the systems with the greatest potential safety benefit were perceived as being least acceptable to the focus group participants. Recommendations are made for increasing the acceptability to drivers of ITS technologies with significant potential to reduce road trauma in Victoria. The report concludes with recommendations for further research. (Author/publisher)