Understanding Driving Anxiety and Trust in Automated Vehicles: A Focus Group Study Across Age Groups

This study explores generational differences in driving anxiety and trust in highly automated vehicles (HAVs) with level 3 automation to identify anxiety-inducing driving scenarios and inform age-specific empathic interface design. Twenty-one participants (14 young drivers, 7 older drivers) took part in focus groups discussing driving anxiety, trust in automation, and preferences for HAV design. Participants evaluated video clips of challenging driving scenarios and described their expectations for system behavior. Younger drivers frequently cited pedestrians and non-driving road users as sources of anxiety, while older drivers were more concerned with surrounding drivers and environmental conditions. Trust in automation was shaped by system transparency, technological performance, and perceived control. Older adults showed greater reluctance to cede control to HAV. These findings highlight the need for personalized, real-time feedback and trust-building features. Drawing on these findings, we developed design guidelines for age-specific empathic interfaces, which contribute to the design of user-centered HAV systems.