A focus group study with a total of 63 older drivers (70 years or older) in two rounds was conducted to identify needs and means for transportation as a passenger car driver. The aim was to understand attitudes to and use of advanced driver assistance technologies. Furthermore, the aim was to identify possible differences between drivers in terms of correct assessment of own driving performance. Participants were recruited at two occasions, in 2011 and 2013. The first round was conducted with 36 participants in six groups and the second round with 27 participants in five groups. Participants in the first round were recruited with help of senior citizen organizations in the city of Gothenburg. Participants in the second round were recruited among respondents (more than 1,300) to a survey. These participants were living in the county of Västra Götaland. All 63 participants had previously participated in an on-road driving assessment followed by an interview. The on-road assessment was done using a standardized protocol (expert assessment). The result was then compared to the driver’s subjective assessment of driving performance. Based on this, three categories were formed depending on the consistency between own and expert assessment. One group comprised consistent estimators (expert and self-assessment coherent) and then there were one group with over estimators and one with under estimators (self-assessment was higher or lower respectively compared to the expert assessment). The first round of focus groups was set up with mixed categories. While the second round applied a homogeneous grouping approach. In total 26 (41%) of the 63 participants were female (50% in the first round and 30% in the second). One researcher acted as moderator and led the discussion while the other researcher documented the discussion simultaneously. The focus group discussion was also voice recorded to facilitate the analysis. Each of the 11 sessions lasted for 2 hours with a 15 minute break. The moderator introduced three pre-defined themes to facilitate the discussion without any specific involvement in the discussions. The themes used were based on identified difficulties during the previous on-road assessment and interviews, i.e. planning the journey, driving through an intersection and speed adaptation. Each session began by asking the participants about what driver assistance systems they had in their own cars and what assistance systems they would like to have. It was found that experience of assistive technology was highly variable, from low technology systems to advanced automatic systems. However, there was a general interest in assistance systems among the participants. Considering the three pre-defined themes the following was noted. They plan their driving more today and sometimes they avoid difficulties, such as night time driving and heavy traffic. A potential planning support could be a well-designed navigation system and improved road signs. Results from the second theme (intersections) showed that participants found it difficult to drive in intersections and much of the discussion focused on traffic rules in roundabouts. However, most drivers confirmed that left turn intersections on rural roads were dangerous. Even so, they found it difficult to formulate what type of assistance they would like to have to resolve intersection problems, besides separate lanes for turning vehicles. When addressed with a possible automatic system they found this positive if it could improve safety. Those who were sceptical to driver assistance systems pointed to expected necessity to learn to use them, cost and need for repair. Concerning the third theme (speed adaptation), few of the participants recognized that they had not adjusted their speed according to the circumstances (i.e. driving too fast as the driving instructor who participated in the on-road assessment had reported). Participants rather claimed that they were the ones that drove according to the conditions. The majority had difficulties to relate to speed adaptation (according to the traffic), they preferred to talk about signed speed limits. Possible assistance for this problem could be more feedback of own speed, cruise control and assistance to improve hazard perception. The focus group interviews were also further scrutinized to search for underlying themes and the following were found: Ageism, participants had a feeling of being discriminated in traffic because of their age. Speed, one group adjusted their speed upwards to others at almost any price or another group complained about others driving to slow. Difficulties to interact, claiming that others did not follow the traffic rules and that pedestrians and cyclists were unpredictable and hard to detect. Driving context, the car was seen as having priority over other road users and that traffic had become denser and faster. They expressed a demand for greater consideration as the traffic climate has become tougher. Realize aging, difficulties to reflect on own behaviour, not realising that reduced attention might be the cause and therefore do not adjust to own ability, e.g. experience that other road users appear surprisingly and suddenly. The participants’ opinions were also analysed in relation to what estimator category they belonged to (over, under or consistent). The consistent estimators revealed an attitude of modesty, less complaints about other road users and a greater acceptance for the aging process. This group was the most positive to engage in education and driver training. The over estimators showed a more self-centered attitude in relation to other road users, they should give way and other drivers need training, i.e. they fail to realize their own aging process. The over estimators were positive to speeding and advocated a more offensive driving style. However, the under estimators were very difficult to analyse due to their small number and uncertain classification (only 12%). Female participants were strategically recruited in order to get gender balance; they were not consistent in their opinion in relation to the predefined and underlying themes. Furthermore, over 50% of the females were classified as over estimators. Some of the female participants drove new large cars. However, other women in the study had older cars with older technique as compared to the male participants. Even so, these participants would appreciate new driver assistance systems if they could afford it. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting