Peter and I have been driving for over 60 years. So when our daughter asked us to be part of a driving study, for which we would be paid, we thought: “Piece of cake!”

We learned further details of the study. It collected data about how people, seniors in particular, would react to driving fully automated cars. My current car, Ruby, has a lot of automated safety features such as back-up warning, lane change warning, and front-end warning. Although I have not been brave enough to try out the front-end one, the other 2 work just fine. Peter, on the other hand, dislikes driving my car because he says it beeps at him all the time.

We signed up for the study’s 2 sessions. The first one began with a lot of questions about our driving habits. Then we had a chance to try out the driving simulator. We had actually seen this “car” on a UHN tour I wrote about previously (Kite, March 12, 2024), and we were anxious to step inside. I was impressed. It was a Mercedes with comfy seats, leather steering wheel, seat belts, even a large-screen TV! The study assistant sat in the passenger seat and pointed out a couple of other features: an indictor for engaging the automation mode, “but don’t worry about that right now” she said. And a barf bag, “just in case.” In case of what?

Mercedes

Pretty soon I was told to put the car in Drive and follow the green van ahead. The engine came to life and I tried to steady the car in my lane. But the steering was very sensitive and the car quickly swerved too far to the right and then too far to the left. I suddenly knew what the barf bag was for. Then I got too close to the van and had to put on the brakes. But they were not sensitive at all and I was slowing down to a stop, as the van disappeared into the future. I had to step on the gas pedal so I could catch up.

Next we headed towards the higway and the van sped up – to 120. I never drive at 120. But the study assistant said that if I didn’t catch up to the van, the data would be lost! Quickly I develped a lead foot and we caught up. I focused intently, not wanting to steer off the road and embarrass myself in a pretend car. Finally I saw a sign above us that said “Thank you.” The try-out was over. The assistant reminded Peter and me of our appointment for the real test, in 7 days.

For the real test, the car began in automated mode. I had to sit there, with my hands in my lap and my foot off the pedals, as Mercedes took over. One time she oversteered a turn and I quickly grabbed the steering wheel. That was a no-no. Reluctantly, I put my hands back in my lap.Then suddenly there were loud beeps and the large-screen TV became a warning sign: YOU ARE DRIVING! This time, when I grabbed the wheel, I had control again. “Too bad, Mercedes, I am the boss now!”

The test went on for a while with Mercedes and I vying for control. She went up hills; I steered around turns. She drove through a city, and I sped up on the highway. It was like a game, with the competitors taking turns controlling the ice, or the field, or the ROAD, and I was determined to win. Finally the “Thank You” sign appeared and the automated study was over.

I stepped out of Mercedes, feeling victorious. I had hit no curbs. I had caused no virtual accidents. I had not used the barf bag. Take that, Mercedes!

But mostly, Peter and I had provided some data that might be useful in the study of safe driving for seniors.

Sue