(Bloomberg) – High-tech safety features have jumped to a high priorityfor older U.S. car-shoppers, who want to keep their freedom ofmobility, a study released Tuesday reports.

Among Americans 50 and up who plan to shop for a car in the nexttwo years, 76% said they will actively seek out high-tech safetyfeatures like blind-spot warning systems or smart headlights,according MIT's AgeLab and The Hartford, aConnecticut-based insurance and investment company. That's morethan double the 32% of same-age drivers who bought a vehicle in thelast year as more car shoppers become aware of advances indriver-assistance technology that are the building blocks ofself-driving cars.

Extend time able to drive

Three-quarters of these mature drivers think that having safetytechnologies in their car will help extend the amount of timethey'll be able to drive, according to the survey, which wasconducted in March. The results suggest that people are becomingincreasingly comfortable relying on the car's internal systems at atime when autonomous driving faces regulatory hurdles and safetyscrutiny.

The survey suggests “they associate advanced technologies withenhanced safety,” said Jodi Olshevski, a gerontologist andexecutive director of the Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence, aunit of The Hartford. “It is encouraging that a majority of maturedrivers planning their next vehicle purchase will purposely seekout high-tech safety features.”

More than half of those surveyed would consider a self-driving car if it provedto be as safe as their own driving, while almost half said theywould consider one if their health prevented them fromdriving.

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