A methodological framework for evaluating ADAS training for older drivers: Feasibility and user perception

Pełka, Małgorzata; Rodak, Aleksandra · 2026 · Crossref

DOI: 10.24425/bpasts.2026.158971

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Summary

This study addresses the challenge of digital exclusion among older drivers (aged 50+) regarding the adoption of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). As demographic shifts increase the proportion of senior drivers, maintaining their mobility is critical for social inclusion and health. However, older drivers often face barriers in adopting ADAS due to knowledge gaps, mistrust, and physical vulnerabilities. The research evaluates the feasibility, physical tolerability, and subjective acceptability of a practical, simulator-based training concept designed specifically for this demographic. The primary goal is to establish a methodological framework for preventing digital exclusion by verifying four hypotheses concerning simulator suitability, trust calibration, user awareness, and training utility. The study employed a high-fidelity AS 1200-6 driving simulator featuring a six-degrees-of-freedom motion platform and a 200-degree visual field to minimize simulator sickness. The research group consisted of 25 participants aged 50 and over, selected for their valid licenses and limited prior ADAS experience. The experimental protocol lasted 100 minutes and included six phases: briefing, acclimatization, practical training on the “Highway Chauffeur” system, subjective evaluation, an experimental test drive with four critical events (including static obstacles and adverse weather), and final benchmarking. Data collection involved the Revised Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (RSSQ) to assess physical feasibility, Likert-scale surveys for trust and usability, and objective performance metrics analyzed via a proprietary fuzzy logic evaluation model. This model was developed to overcome the biases inherent in subjective instructor assessments, such as recency bias and leniency. The results confirmed all four research hypotheses. Analysis of RSSQ data revealed a statistically significant reduction in fatigue and somnolence during the adaptation process, validating the physical feasibility of the high-fidelity simulator for older adults (H1). The training intervention led to a measurable increase in trust towards ADAS with a strong effect size, confirming positive behavioral adaptation (H2). Participants demonstrated heightened awareness of system benefits, primarily identifying enhanced safety and speed control (H3). Furthermore, the proposed training model achieved high internal consistency and received positive subjective usability ratings (H4). The study also highlighted that objective, scenario-based evaluation via the fuzzy logic model provided more reliable performance metrics than subjective instructor ratings or participant self-assessments, which often exhibited optimism bias. The significance of this research lies in its validation of simulator-based practical training as an effective tool for calibrating trust and improving ADAS competence among older drivers. By demonstrating that high-fidelity simulation is physically tolerable and pedagogically effective, the study supports the deployment of such training to prevent digital exclusion. The findings emphasize the necessity of moving beyond theoretical instruction to hands-on experience, which allows for proper trust calibration and prevents misuse or disuse of technology. Additionally, the development of a standardized, objective evaluation framework addresses methodological limitations in previous studies, offering a robust approach for future research and practical implementation in driver education programs.

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-26; verification: verified.

Topics

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• simulator training transfer
• older driver retraining
• simulator validity fidelity

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: self report data
• Methodological Resource: validation psychometrics, tool software