The following is from a discussion of the Longevity Circle, which is a group that I belong to and the topic was seniors and car safety. The following safety features can keep seniors feeling safe and comfortable behind the wheel:
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). This system uses special sensors to maintain a safe distance between your car and the one in front of you. The control is especially useful for long-distance trips on the highway. A car with this type of cruise control can automatically brake or accelerate to let you safely follow other drivers. This includes slamming on the brakes if needed to avoid an unexpected accident.
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB). The purpose of an AEB system is to help drivers react more quickly to emergencies. If sensors detect a potential collision, they apply the brakes right away. The brake isn’t supposed to replace staying awake at the wheel, but it can help older adults to improve response times in emergencies.
Lane Departure Warning. This system lets you know if the vehicle is starting to drift. It keeps track of the white lines on the road and sounds an alert if it notices the car leaving its lane.
Rear-View Cameras. This safety feature can be a huge help for older adults who may experience pain when repeatedly turning their neck to look back. A screen shows what’s behind the automobile to help prevent collisions when backing up.
Blind Spot Detection. Blindspot detection uses sensors to warn drivers when there’s a vehicle in the car’s blind spot. Usually, small lights appear on the door mirrors when other cars approach from behind.
Accessibility
Many older adults find it difficult to squat and move sideways to get into a seat. You may want a vehicle with a low step-in height, a tall roofline, and wide-opening doors. Some seniors need to back up to a vehicle, put their rear ends on the seat, and then slide in. If that's the case for you, non-fabric seats may work best.
Thanks to their height, SUVs are easy to get in and out of. Low-slung sedans tend to be a little less accessible.
Visibility
Drivers need to be able to see from every angle: front, side, and back. Big windows and backup cameras are very helpful in that regard. Higher seats are also useful, which is why SUVs tend to offer better sightlines than sedans.
Controls
Large, easy-to-read dashboard controls are easier on aging eyes. Touchscreens can be confusing and difficult for older fingers to use, so make sure you test them out. The best ones have large fonts, intuitive graphics, and high contrast displays. Voice controls are becoming more widespread and can be very helpful for seniors with dexterity challenges.
Safety features
Perform well in car safety tests. Safety is a key concern for any driver, but especially for older adults, who tend to be more fragile and prone to injuries.
Comfort
A comfortable ride is important to keep you from getting sore or fatigued. Heated seats can be good for people with stiff hips, lower back pain, or cold sensitivity. Some models allow you to set the temperature of the seat bottom and seat back separately.
Power seats that adjust in multiple ways make it easy to accommodate different situations. For instance, perhaps you need to keep the seat further back to get in and out, but then move it closer to the wheel to drive. Or maybe your spouse needs different seat positioning. It's especially handy if the seats have memory settings so that you don't have to reconfigure them every time.
Adjustable pedals and steering columns can also be useful in ensuring that you get a good fit. And a power liftgate on an SUV can save you from having to manually open or close the heavy door; all you need to do is press a button or, in some cases, just wave your foot under the rear bumper.
Overall fit
Everyone's needs are different, and it's important to find the car that is best suited to you. CarFit (https://www.car-fit.org/) is a program in the United States that allows seniors to have a trained technician or health professional evaluate how well their vehicles fit them. The process involves looking at factors like how you are positioned in relation to the steering wheel, seat belt, mirrors, pedals, and so on. Since the program's inception, surveys have revealed that 10 percent of participating seniors were sitting too close to the wheel, and 20 percent could not see at least three inches over it.
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