Is ITS ready for the older driver?

Technological breakthroughs have advanced the level of applications regarding the intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Such advancements often require human interaction, which may pose problems if the role of the humans is not properly addressed. At the same time, the number of elderly drivers is growing and the aging related deficiencies that may affect driver safety are particularly important in developing ITS systems and components. Developing future ITS components without considering the needs of this increasing special population may be a grave mistake. This paper, focusing on the older driver needs and problems within the ITS environment, reviewed and documented past and current research efforts in the US. The findings of this review indicate that even though significant research effort is focused toward the development of ITS components, very little is focused primarily on the older driver. Future research areas are identified that will assist in determining the impact of age on the various ITS components and address the specific needs of elderly drivers.