Nissan UK has released the results of a new survey it carried out into how fully autonomous cars could help elderly people maintain their independence.
The survey, carried out by UK firm OnePoll and involving 1000 participants aged over 70, revealed that more than half said they would feel disempowered if they had to stop driving and nearly two thirds (63 percent) noted the importance of not having to rely on others for everyday transport needs such as going shopping or visiting friends.
Sixty-four per cent of respondents also said they would like the ‘inventions of the future’ – such as driverless cars – to help them remain independent, with 1-in-5 saying they would happily take a ride in a self-driving car if it helped them stay mobile without assistance.
Mobility is also vital in helping older people maintain face-to-face contact with others too, with 21 percent saying they would prefer to communicate in-person with friends and family members, rather than use an online alternative, while a third (36 percent) of those living in rural areas said that not being able to drive makes them feel socially isolated.
When asked about the idea of riding in a self-driving car, 67 percent said it would make them feel nervous, while other said it would make them feel intrigued (24 percent), amazed (12 percent) or excited (11 percent).
One elderly person who has given a resounding thumbs-up to autonomous driving technology currently being developed by Nissan is 93-year-old grandfather-of-five Brad Ashton who experienced the tech for himself as Nissan marked the culmination of evolvAD, a UK government-backed research project to develop an autonomous vehicle capable of safely driving in UK residential, urban, and rural environments.
Ashton was invited by Nissan to take a ride along rural roads near the company’s Technical Centre in Cranfield, UK, and said it has the potential to keep older motorists like him mobile and independent in later life.
A retired comedy scriptwriter who has prepared material for the likes of Groucho Marx, Tommy Cooper and Les Dawson, Aston has been driving since 1947. He currently drives a Nissan Micra which he uses to help him look after his wife Valerie as her primary carer.
"New technology like this is fantastic and it’s important to embrace it," Ashton said.
"Cars were different back in 1947 – you had to crank them up – so I’ve always wondered what the cars of the future would be like – and this is it. It was exciting travelling on these winding country roads with the team - I thought I would feel frightened or worried but felt safe and relaxed throughout the experience.
Ashton said that being independent and still being able to drive is really important to him and that his car was vital as his local bus service is quite poor, and his wife can’t get on a bus.
"People like me that depend on a car, or that can’t drive, will benefit from this tech one day to help them stay in touch with friends and family and keep them from feeling isolated, particularly in rural areas where there are fewer transport options like taxis.
"One thing though – it’d be great if the driverless cars of the future could find you a parking space."
