Older Adults and Advanced Transportation Technologies: Developing a Training Curriculum

Abstract

This project developed, pilot-tested, and evaluated an in-person training program targeted for older adults, that included demonstrations on a closed-course track in a real automobile. The program had the following goals: Provide a background for understanding how to use ADAS and AV technologies; Provide resources for learning about how to use specific technologies.; Demonstrate how some of the technologies work in a vehicle on the Mcity test track. The resulting training program took less than one hour to complete. Twenty-nine active older drivers were recruited to participate in the pilot test of the training and participants completed pre- and post-questionnaires that allowed us to assess changes in attitudes, thoughts, and intentions to use ADAS and AV technologies. The post-questionnaire also included a section for participants to provide feedback on the training program itself . These results showed that the program achieved its goal of successfully providing resources for learning about how to use specific transportation technologies and increased people’s confidence in their ability to use these sources. Results also showed that after the training self-reported trust in AVs increased, perceived safety risk of AV use decreased, and reported intention to use AVs in the future increased. Attitudes toward AVs and perceived usefulness increased while perceived privacy concerns decreased, but these changes were not statistically significant. Collectively, these results suggest that the classroom discussion about advanced transportation technologies and getting hands-on experience with some of these technologies can help overcome some of the barriers for older adults to use ADAS and AVs in the future.