Older Adults and Vehicle Design

Abstract

Vehicle designs that enhance the safety of older users should consider their needs in the design process. This study aimed to capture the ingress and egress strategies employed by older drivers in order to understand the relationship between balance and mobility and movement patterns. A sample of healthy older drivers (n=15; aged 72.5±7.9) and those with mobility impairments (n=17; aged 71.3±6.0) were captured entering and exiting four vehicle models using an adjustable vehicle mock-up. As well, semi-structured interviews and ride-a-longs were conducted with a sub-group (n=7) of participants with mobility impairments in order to explore how bodily changes associated with aging impact vehicle usability. There were no significant differences across vehicle models in terms of ingress, but there were with egress. Particular movement strategies used by both groups are discussed with regard to safety. Through this movement analyses, such evidence can be used to develop innovations that inform the next generation of vehicles that consider the needs of older users.