Rearview camera system use among older drivers: A naturalistic observation study

With rearview camera systems becoming more widely available in the automobile market, there is a need to understand how older drivers use them when reversing. The rearview camera display can reduce a driver’s blind spot at the rear of the vehicle; however, it is unclear how seniors, who have a high risk of reversing collisions, incorporate the display into their visual scanning strategies when reversing their personal vehicles. Moreover, it remains to be demonstrated how aware they are of their reversing habits or how those habits relate to the usability or familiarity with the technology. This study explored these issues using a naturalistic observation approach that captured the on-road behaviour of fourteen seniors aged 69–82years who owned vehicles equipped with rearview camera systems, followed by an interview about system usability. Results indicate that older drivers incorporate the display alongside other areas of interest (e.g., the rearview mirror) into their scanning strategies when reversing, especially in the presence of other vehicles, but least of all when at home. While older drivers appear to be aware of their reversing habits, they overestimate how often they turn to look directly behind through the rear window. Our sample rated system usability positively, but duration of vehicle ownership may affect perceptions and actual use of the technology. Our data show that seniors incorporate this technology into their reversing routines, which has the potential to make the driving task safer and easier.