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Making Cars Safer: Internal Driving Environments
To address the needs of older adults with common vision impairments and other conditions that may affect safe driving, NHTSA has collaborated with car manufacturers to build cars with larger print on dashboard equipment and to make other aspects of the car more user-friendly.
There are several options for modifying vehicles to maximize older adults' ability to drive safely:
Adaptive equipment
Occupational therapists can evaluate and recommend specially designed foot pedals, mirrors and seat cushions to improve driving position, vision and performance.
Adjustment of seats, steering wheels, safety belts and mirrors
Many older drivers experience impaired trunk movement and loss of strength in their shoulders, arms and hands. Simple adjustments to the seat and steering wheel can improve performance for drivers with limited flexibility (see "Suggested Fix" in the table below). Many car models sold on the market today offer features that maximize seat and wheel adjustability (see "Helpful Auto Features" in the table).68 Ask the car dealer or check a consumer report to identify which options come as standard equipment and which are optional. Check to see if any rebates are offered for safety equipment.
Older adults may benefit from training sessions on adapting the car to their needs. These "car fitting" sessions may be of particular benefit to widows who have inherited their husband's cars, especially if their husbands were the primary drivers. AAA conducts "Safe Driving for Mature Operators" courses for drivers ages 65 and older.
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What to Check for
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Suggested Fix
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Helpful Auto Features
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Height of the driver's seat
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Adjust the steering wheel so that it is no higher than the top of the driver's shoulders
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- Tilt steering wheel
- Adjustable steering column
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Steering flexibility
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Determine if seat and steering-wheel adjustments make handling easier
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- Six-way power seats
- Power steering
- Tilt steering wheel
- Adjustable or telescoping steering column
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Distance to pedals and controls
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Determine if the driver can comfortably reach the gas and brake pedals, radio, and climate and other controls
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- Six-way power seats
- Power steering
- Tilt steering wheel
- Adjustable or telescoping steering column
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Level of visibility
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Determine if the driver can clearly see what is in front of and behind the car
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- Right-side mirrors
- In-car controls for adjusting mirrors
- Large windshields
- Long windshield wipers that cover maximum surface of the windshield
- Regular (not tinted) windows
- Enhanced rearview mirror
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Design new vehicles with older drivers in mind. Features that may help older drivers feel safer and more comfortable include:
- Power windows and door locks
- Daytime running lights (headlamps used in daylight to prevent crashes) and amber turn signals, which increase visibility to other drivers
- Dials and gauges that are easy to read and understand
Tip: Always test drive new cars on the road.
If these modifications are insufficient, there are numerous adaptive devices that may be installed to facilitate driving for disabled persons, including elders with disabilities. Examples include entry and exit aids, seating aids and restraints, steering aids, accelerating and braking aids, and control levers.69 These aids address the driving difficulties for people with:
- Range-of-motion difficulty (in the neck, arms, shoulders, or hips)
- General muscle weakness or poor muscle control
- Poor endurance or fatigue
- Small body size (e.g., due to osteoporosis)
- Short arms or legs
- Amputated or nonfunctional legs or arms
- Lack of manual dexterity
- Lack of body balance
See Appendix A for driving aids recommended for specific disabilities.
68 AAA Public Affairs, Publications, 1000 AAA Drive, Heathrow, FL 32746-5063.
69 NHTSA, Safe Mobility for Older People Notebook, pp. 289-92.
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