高齢者にやさしい自動車の実用化に向けて

摘要

「高齢者にやさしい自動車開発推進知事連合」では，これまで高齢者が引き起こした交通事故の状況や事故につながる行動・特性を詳細に分析し，事故を防止するために必要な機能の検討や全国1万人を超える高齢ドライバーのアンケート調査を通じて，アクセルとブレーキの踏み間違いを防止する機能などの「支援機能」と，高齢者の自動車の利用実態に応じた，小回りが利いて運転しやすく軽自動車より小さい近距離用2人乗り小型車の「車両規格」を，高齢者にやさしい自動車のコンセプトとして2011年2月に提案・公表した．%The governor's alliance for the development of senior-friendly automobiles, in which 36 prefectural governors participate, is working on the development of automobiles that elderly people can drive in a cool and safety way. As a result of accident analysis of elders and nationwide questionnaire survey to 10 000 senior citizens, the alliance proposed drive assist functions corresponding to characteristics of elderly people as well as a new vehicle category, which is smaller than "kei cars", satisfying the needs of seniors who would drive only short range as a concept of senior-friendly cars. The alliance has tried to put the concept into practical use based on the social demonstration test conducted in 2011. The alliance will continue its effort to put senior-friendly cars to practical use by various approaches including proposition to the government and car manufacturers, and provision of opportunities of social experiments for facilitation of the development.