Driving a better driving experience: a questionnaire survey of older compared with younger drivers

A questionnaire survey of drivers (n = 903) was conducted covering musculoskeletal symptoms, the vehicle seat, access to specific vehicle features, ingress/egress, driving performance and driving behaviours. Significantly, more discomfort was reported by older drivers (aged 65+) in the hips/thighs/buttocks and knees. Older drivers reported more difficulty parallel parking (p ≤ 0.01), driving on a foggy day (p ≤ 0.01), and turning their head and body to reverse (p ≤ 0.001). They also reported that their reactions were slower than they used to be (p ≤ 0.01). Dissatisfaction was found by all drivers with adjusting the headrest (height and distance), seat belt height and opening/closing the boot. There is a growing population of older people globally, and the number of older drivers is showing a parallel increase. Clearly, efforts are needed to ensure car design of the future is more inclusive of older drivers. Practitioner Summary: This paper describes a questionnaire survey of drivers on their driving experience – the vehicle seat, access to specific vehicle features, ingress/egress, driving performance and driving behaviours. Comparisons are made by age and gender. Issues with driving and vehicle design particularly for older drivers in the UK are identified.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2016.1182648
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00140139
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2016 Sukru Kalari et al. Publi 2016
• Authors:
  • Karali, Sukru
  • Gyi, Diane E
  • Mansfield, Neil J
• Publication Date: 2017-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 533-540
• Serial:
  • Ergonomics
  • Volume: 60
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Taylor & Francis
  • ISSN: 0014-0139
  • EISSN: 1366-5847
  • Serial URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/terg20

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged drivers; Comfort; Drivers; Driving; Ergonomics; Musculoskeletal system; Questionnaires; Vehicle design
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Society; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01635442
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 25 2017 1:56PM