Development of a quantitative measure of driving performance for operating skills of a mobility scooter

Using observational assessments and analyses of operation logs from a drive recorder

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the operating skills of a mobility scooter using observation and operation logs from a drive recorder and clarify the usefulness of the operation logs by comparing the evaluation methods. The operating skills of seven older adults were assessed by observation and operation logs during test course driving. The results revealed that the observation provided a comprehensive assessment of the task difficulty and the number of failures, while the operation logs provided a quantitative assessment of the characteristics of steering wheel and speed adjustment operations. In addition, the operation log suggested the possibility of detecting dangerous driving that could lead to an accident. The evaluation system using observation and operation logs is considered an effective method that complements both types in the evaluation of operation skills. This result can be applied to develop an evaluation system that is used in real-life environments.