Self Driving Cars 'The Future Of Motoring'
Autonomous cars could be the ‘future of motoring’ for older drivers according to one pensioner who was able to sample the technology currently being developed by Nissan.
Brad Ashton, a 93-year-old living in North London, was invited by Nissan to take a ride in a Nissan Leaf being used in the most recent test of autonomous driving systems, offering him a glimpse into the future of motoring.
Mr Ashton has been driving since the 1940s, and currently owns a Nissan Micra that he uses to look after his wife Valerie and to run errands in the local area.
“New technology like this is fantastic and it’s important to embrace it,” he said. “Cars were different back in 1947 – you had to crank them up – so I’ve always wondered what the cars of the future would be like – and this is it. I was very proud to be the first older person to try this car out.
“It was exciting travelling on these winding country roads with the team - I thought I would feel frightened or worried but felt safe and relaxed throughout the experience.
“Being independent and still being able to drive is really important to me – my car is vital as my local bus service is quite poor, and my wife can’t get on a bus. People like me that depend on a car, or that can’t drive, will benefit from this tech one day to help them stay in touch with friends and family and keep them from feeling isolated, particularly in rural areas where there are fewer transport options like taxis.
“One thing though – it’d be great if the driverless cars of the future could find you a parking space!”
Comments from Mr Ashton come on the back of a survey that revealed that more than half of people over 70 would feel disempowered if they were forced to stop driving, with over 60 per cent valuing the independence of being able to travel without relying on others for support.
Autonomous technology could be used in order to help people older people mobile, and also reduce social isolation amongst those living in areas that are not currently well served by public transport systems.