Examining Senior Drivers Adaptation to Mixed Level Automated Vehicles: A Naturalistic Study

Liang, Dan; Antin, Jonathan F; Lau, Nathan K; Stulce, Kelly E; Baker, Stephanie A; Wotring, Brian · 2019 · ROSA P / Safety through Disruption (Safe-D) University Transportation Center (UTC)

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Summary

This study investigates how senior drivers (aged 70–79) accept, trust, and adapt to mixed-level Advanced Vehicle Technologies (AVTs) through extended naturalistic exposure. Motivated by the growing senior population and the potential for AVTs to compensate for age-related cognitive and physical declines, the research addresses the gap in understanding how actual experience influences adoption rates, as seniors are often reluctant to adopt new technologies based on surveys alone. The study specifically examined four features: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Blind Spot Alert (BSA), and Lane Alert (LA). The methodology involved 18 participants who drove AVT-equipped vehicles for six weeks in their daily routines. Data collection included pre- and post-exposure surveys, weekly phone interviews tracking usage and attitudes, and post-study focus groups. Participants underwent initial training on the vehicle’s features and instrumentation. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, compared pre- and post-experiment attitudes, while repeated measures ANOVA assessed changes in trust and satisfaction over time. Results indicated a significant positive shift in attitudes toward AVTs after the six-week period. Participants reported decreased false alarms, increased familiarity, greater confidence, and a heightened sense of safety for both lane control and acceleration/braking features. Usage frequency varied by feature; BSA was the most frequently experienced (73.3% "almost every time"), while ACC was the least used (24.4% "almost every time"). Despite increased usage and familiarity, statistical analysis showed no significant change in weekly trust or satisfaction ratings over the six weeks. Qualitative data from focus groups revealed that seniors preferred informational technologies (like BSA) over those asserting independent control (like LKA). Key factors for acceptance included adequate orientation time and clear user documentation. The findings suggest that while seniors may initially resist AVTs, extended exposure significantly improves their confidence and perceived safety benefits. However, the preference for alert-based systems over control-intervention systems highlights a need for design considerations that respect driver autonomy. The study concludes that providing seniors with sufficient time to learn and appropriate documentation is critical for realizing the safety benefits of AVTs in this demographic.

Key finding

Senior drivers preferred information-providing AVTs like blind spot alerts over control-asserting features like lane keep assist, and their trust and satisfaction increased with exposure when supported by adequate training and documentation.

Methodology

naturalistic

Sample size: 18

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• acceptance adoption
• older drivers
• trust calibration
• automation
• automation surprise
• situational awareness

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Empirical Findings: self report data, observational prevalence
• Methodological Resource: tool software