Advanced auto technologies and safe driving habits can help older motorists remain behind the wheel longer, say two new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety studies, released Dec. 8 to mark Older Driver Safety Awareness Week this week.
New in-car technologies such as navigation assistance, forward collision warnings, and back-up cameras will considerably reduce the potential for crashes among drivers 65 years of age and older on the road.
Couple these technologies with good-driving strategies and seniors will greatly minimize their driving risk on roadways, the studies conclude.
Why is this important? Because today, there are a record 36 million adult drivers over 65 years of age on the road and that number is expected to increase substantially over the next decade. In addition, it’s been discovered that senior drivers, who do give up their keys are nearly two times more likely to experience depression and five times more likely to enter a long-term care facility.
In one study, Keeping Older Adults Driving Safely: A Research Synthesis of Advanced In-Vehicle Technologies, researchers examined 16 advanced vehicle technologies and determined six provided high value for older adults by potentially reducing crashes and improving the ease and comfort of driving:
- Forward collision warnings systems help prevent crashes by warning drivers of a potential collision or by automatically applying the brakes. For older drivers, this technology can improve reaction times and reduce crashes by up to 20%. Click here to continue reading.
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