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Bumper To Bumper
 Vehicle Features for Boomers… and Beyond
Sixty may be the new 50, as baby boomers want to
believe. Each of us ages differently, but sooner
or later time plays its tricks on our bodies, affecting
our ability to perform complex tasks such as driving.
To assist older drivers in selecting their
next vehicle, AAA and the National Older Driver
Research and Training Center at University of Florida
in Gainesville, identified some 30 features that
can be particularly helpful to aging drivers. Among
them:
- Adjustable pedals: With a push of a button,
the driver can adjust the accelerator and brake
pedals, a feature especially helpful for petite
drivers to reach the pedals while ensuring they
are a safe distance (about 12 inches) from the
airbag mounted in the steering-wheel hub.
- Power-operated seats: These require less
strength to adjust. At a minimum, the seats should
offer six-way adjustment: forward and backward,
up and down, and seatback forward and backward.
- Large/wide-angle mirrors: For those who
have difficulty turning or twisting to look to
the rear when changing lanes or backing up.
- Moderate step-in height: A low-slung sports
car may look snazzy, but it requires extra strength
and flexibility to get into and out of the vehicle.
Likewise, a tall SUV requires extra effort to climb
up into a seat.
- Keyless entry: Operated by a push-button
on the key fob, this feature is good for those
with arthritic hands who find it painful to twist
a key.
- Tilt/telescoping steering wheel: The extra
adjustments help the driver find a safe distance
from the front airbag, as well as a comfortable
position that alleviates knee, back, hip, neck
or shoulder pain.
- Brake assist: Like the term implies, it
helps the driver generate enough force during emergency
braking to stop the car in time to prevent a collision.
- Dual-stage/dual-threshold airbags: The
airbag inflation force varies based on driver/passenger
weight, distance from airbags and crash severity
– important for frail adults who may be injured
by airbags that deploy too hard.
- Stability control: This feature helps
prevent loss of control in a turn, especially on
slippery roads. It’s particularly beneficial to
older drivers with slowed reaction times, because
it automatically makes quick corrections to keep
the car on course.
To view a more comprehensive list of features
and specific examples of vehicles loaded with
senior-friendly features, visit AAA.com/seniors.
— Peter Bohr
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