Elderly females and vehicle cockpit design – a questionnaire analysis

The described investigation had the objective to identify the requirements on vehicle design for elderly female drivers (aged 50 and older) and compared them with those of a smaller control-group of elderly male drivers. Therefore a survey questionnaire was developed, based on existing literature concerning elderly women and their buying decision. The questionnaire contained 37 main questions about four topics: safety, practical aspects, vehicle design and cockpit design. A total of 217 questionnaires were returned (178 women and 49 men). Safety and reliability are identified to be the most important criteria for old female drivers when buying a car. Elderly female drivers rate the importance of practical criteria significantly higher than the elderly male drivers. Whereas elderly men judge the importance of driver information and assistance systems significantly higher compared to elderly women.