Autonomous Driving and the Elderly: Perceived Risks and Benefits

Abstract

Autonomous driving offers possibilities to simplify and enhance the lives of many people. One group that could benefit a lot from autonomous driving is elderly people. In this contribution, we examine the opportunities and risks that elderly people see in autonomous driving. This was done by conducting semi-structured interviews with 10 participants which offered some insight into the acceptance of autonomous driving among elderly people. The identified perceived benefits and risks are validated by an online survey in which 113 people from 59 to 90 years of age have taken part. In general, elderly people are not rejecting the idea of using autonomous driving altogether. They see benefits in increased mobility and therefore greater independence at a higher age as it allows disabled people to regain lost mobility. However, our study also revealed privacy and security concerns, factors known to have a negative impact on technology adoption.