Introducing automated driving to the generation 50+

Automated driving could promote safety and comfort in everyday traffic by reducing the human factor in vehicle control and traffic flow. Especially older people can benefit from such a technology, since age may have an impact on the driving ability. However, only few driving assistance systems focusing on the needs of the generation 50+ also consider opportunities of highly automated vehicles, such as the usage of head-mounted displays while driving. In a survey with drivers of 50+ years (N=26), we found that 81% had a basic knowledge of automated vehicles (AVs) but 73% would not buy an AV or are in doubt. In this WIP report, we present our research approach leading to a novel system for automated driving, addressing the needs of the generation 50+. We believe that the proposed system can foster the safety and acceptance of users in this age group and beyond.