The suit also includes special goggles which distort colors and give the feel of cataracts, thus simulating the physical effects of old age on drivers. This in turn helps the designers to improve future vehicles in order to be more “granny friendly.”
While some people might think this is not exactly the best way to spend their research money allowance considering the life expectancy of an elder customer after he passes a certain age (keyword is “customer”), Nissan thinks otherwise.
According to a report by the Rand Institute for civil Justice, drivers who are 65 or older are 16 percent more likely than adults aged 25 to 64 to cause and accident, even though they're not as prone to car-wrecking as the youngest drivers on the road.
Interesting statistic, considering that the 65 and older population in the United States alone is expected to double and reach 70 million souls by 2030, which in other words mean that one in five people will be an elder in about 20 years.
“Older drivers not only have a harder time getting in and out of seats but also have difficulty seeing writing on controls and distinguishing colors on navigation screens.” said Etsuhiro Watanabe, one of the design engineers in charge of the “aging suit” project at Nissan's technology center in Japan.
We are expecting driver-seats with included bedpans in a maximum of five years as a prime result of Nissan's study helped by the “aging suit.”
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