This month's feature, by Dan Formosa, PhD, is republished courtesy of Design For All Newsletter May 2008, Vol-3, No-5, a publication of Design for All Institute of India.
Abstract
A moving car is a constant risk. Very young drivers and older drivers are not as good as middle-aged drivers in avoiding crashes. The reason - automobiles, automobile electronics, and highways are designed for "average" drivers, not the extremes of the driving population.
Driving an automobile is a skill. A driver's main objective, even more important than arriving at a destination, is to get there without crashing. Driving is a task of continuous crash avoidance. Accomplishing this requires constant attention to the road ahead. A driver's attention is easily diverted with any number of in-vehicle activities. Complex electronics currently found in automobiles can significantly contribute to the problem.
In a quest to reduce accidents, injuries and deaths, this paper discusses designers' responsibility in designing automobiles and automobile interiors, and opportunities for using design to explore effective, high performance solutions.
Read the complete feature. 
