ELDERLY DRIVER INGRESS AND EGRESS FROM A VEHICLE: PERCEIVED DISCOMFORT AND TASK DURATION. (11th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kozak, K; Mirshams Shahshahani, P; Wan, J; Wang, N; Kapshai, A; DeMott, T; Richardson, J; Ashton-Miller, J
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 2(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 517
• Page End: 517
• Publication Date: 2018-11-11
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.1915
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: The time it takes a driver to get in and out of a vehicle, and how comfortably they can perform this task, are important considerations for vehicle design. Older drivers are keeping their licenses longer and driving more miles, making it more important than ever to study how vehicle design parameters interact with the sensorimotor changes due to aging and disease. 48 older subjects (27 males, 21 females) between the ages of 67 and 89 years were tested. Twenty-four were healthy, 12 had osteoarthritis and 12 had diabetic polyneuropathy. Subjects completed both physical capacity tests and motion capture testing of ingress/egress in seven different vehicles represented by the Human Occupant Package Simulator. A control group of 48 younger drivers also completed ingress/egress testing. Motions, captured using Vicon cameras, were used to calculate the main outcome variables of Ingress Time and Egress Time. The third main outcome, Perceived Discomfort, was measured by asking the subjects to rate each ingress/egress motion. Inverse Egress Time and Discomfort were significantly correlated, with a correlation coefficient of -0.45. Longer times were associated with greater discomfort. Linear mixed-effect modeling showed that vehicle design factors that significantly influenced the discomfort or the duration of ingress/egress were the height of the vehicle seat with respect to the ground, as well as the location of the seat with respect to the sill and the roof rail. In conclusion, Perceived Discomfort and Ingress/Egress Time provide guidance on how vehicle design can improve the driving experience for elderly drivers.