How to find out the future need for driver support systems? An empirical method to find out critical incidents while car use in qualitative research

An empirical method to explore the need for driver support systems in qualitative research is reported. The method bases on the critical incidents technique: Not the trip in general, but special incidents while driving define the subjective assessment of a whole trip by the driver. Attractive driver support systems should deal with those critical incidents. By various methods (in-depths-interview, self-observation, observation) those critical incidents have been gathered. In addition focus group concepts for driver support systems were developed in order to assess the critical incidents been gathered before. The method describes a very intensive work with the test persons. Therefore the sample is not very extensive. Consequently the criteria described in the report – how to select the sample of test persons - are very important for the quality of the results.