Finding a Smart Technical System for Mitigating the Elderly’s Driving Accidents: System Development for Safe Driving for the Elderly

Driving-related injuries associated with elderly drivers are on the rise although the overall rate of driving-related injuries has decreased. To determine the causes of this trend, this chapter introduces the characteristics of the elderly’s aging health conditions and driving behaviours, and also explains existing vehicle systems that use different safety technologies to promote safe driving. This chapter will show that for the most part, current systems are not created by people with driving difficulties caused by health problems, which in turn often afflict the elderly. Moreover, based on an elderly focus group with declining body conditions, this chapter uses an interview to discover the problems they encounter while driving and demonstrates how new system concepts can be developed for the elderly. Finally, this chapter proposes adequate system concepts for the elderly as a solution that would improve driving safety and provide a more enjoyable driving environment for this population.