Evaluating Older Drivers’ Reaction to Forward Collision Warning (FCW) Systems Under Conditions of Distraction Using a Driving Simulator

This project addresses the critical need to understand how older drivers, defined as those aged 65 and above, interact with advanced driver assistance systems like FCW, especially under conditions of distraction. Given the aging population and the high crash death rates among older drivers, this research is crucial. The study will use the UConn full-scale Realtime™ driving simulator to create realistic urban driving scenarios where participants will face distractions and FCW system activations. The research comprises two phases: the first involves a comprehensive literature review, developing a post-experiment questionnaire, obtaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, and programming driving scenarios. The second phase includes recruiting participants, data collection, and analysis. The data analysis will focus on drivers' reactions to FCW activations, comparing reaction times and time-to-collision (TTC) metrics across different distraction scenarios. This project aims to provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of FCW systems for older drivers and their attitudes toward such technologies, potentially influencing future designs and policies for driver assistance systems. The involvement of a graduate student and a technician ensures an educational and practical approach to the research, contributing to the broader field of automotive safety technologies.