Supporting Safe Driving for Older Adults - at a Crossroads with ADAS [Roadmap for Measurement and Applications]

The automobile is considered essential for transportation in most western countries. For many older adults, driving is a key enabler for maintaining an active, engaged, and independent lifestyle, allowing the freedom to be able to get out for work, social activities, shopping, physical exercise, and many other activities. Thus, driving leads to physical activity, cognitive stimulation, and social engagement that benefit and support an ongoing active life. As we age, we all experience the natural and illness-related declines associated with aging which can affect our ability to drive safely. The challenge is how do we ensure drivers continue to have the required skills for safe driving across the lifespan. This paper proposes a new role for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) technologies in extending driver capabilities into older age. These ADAS technologies can take on two roles: first, acting as assistive devices enhancing safety and convenience for drivers in day-to-day situations, and second, as measurement systems to assess age-related declines in driving skills.