Acceptability of in-vehicle intelligent transport systems to Victorian car drivers

The Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) recently completed research for the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) into the acceptability to car drivers of several in-vehicle Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) with high estimated safety potential. The acceptability of seven technologies was assessed: Forward Collision Warning; Intelligent Speed Adaptation; Emergency Notification; Electronic Licence; Alcohol Interlock; Fatigue Monitoring; and Lane Departure Warning. Eight focus groups were conducted involving a total of 52 Victorian car drivers, ranging in age from 18 to 83 years. Participants belonged to sub-groups of car drivers (defined by age and sex) who, from examination of Victorian crash data, were either over-represented or involved most in crashes of the types addressed by the technologies under study. Hence, the sub-groups of car drivers selected were those who should derive the greatest safety benefits from the systems. To be acceptable to participants a system was defined as needing to be useful, effective, usable, affordable, and socially acceptable. The Alcohol Interlock and Electronic Licence were found to be least acceptable to drivers. They were also, along with Intelligent Speed Adaptation, the systems that were estimated to confer the greatest safety benefit. The implications of these findings for the successful deployment of in-vehicle ITS are discussed.