Causes of car pedal switching errors in the elderly people: from exercise physiology

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K20253
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 90140:Medical technology assessment-related
• Research Institution: 福井医療大学
• Principal Investigator: Fujita Kazuki 福井医療大学, 保健医療学部, 准教授 (20649686)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 交通事故 / 自動車運転 / 踏み間違い / 筋電図 / 動作解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The participants in this study consisted of 11 young drivers and 10 elderly drivers. An experimental pedal was used, and the muscle activity and kinematic data during braking action were analyzed. The results showed that the elderly drivers had higher soleus muscle activity throughout the process, from accelerator release to brake contact, and the rectus femoris activity was delayed. Furthermore, elderly drivers tended to have low hip adduction velocity and tended to switch pedals by hip internal rotation.
Next, data was extracted from three cases in which pedal errors occurred while braking. In Case 1, the activity of the soleus increased at an inappropriate time and the accelerator was pushed. In Case 2, after the accelerator was released, the tibialis anterior and the soleus repeatedly contracted and relaxed in synchronization and swaying of the toes was observed. In Case 3, the range of hip motion was limited and simultaneous pressing of both pedals was observed.

Free Research Field

生体医工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢者における若年者との運動制御の違いは，足の不正確な軌跡を引き起こしペダルエラーの発生に関連している可能性がある。高齢者では認知機能に関わらず無意識的に踏み間違いが発生する可能性がある。自動ブレーキシステムの発展によって，踏み間違い事故は今後減少していくと考えられる。しかし，あらゆる状況や環境でシステムが作動し，そして，そのような車両が日本のみならず世界全体に普及するかは不透明である。ヒューマンエラーへの対処も並行して進めることが肝要であり，本研究の結果は安全なペダル操作の指導，自動車ペダルの設計，免許更新時検査の再考などに資することができる。