8 min
EP115: Top Car Consideration for Older Drivers: Age-Friendly Technologies/Age-Friendly Cars This Is Getting Old Podcast with Melissa B PhD
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- Science
In today’s world, there are advances in many age-friendly products and services — meaning that when things are age-friendly, they are friendly for everyone.
Another term I’ve learned for designing age-friendly products is “universal design”. Universal design means products that are accessible for all people — regardless of age, disability or other factors.
Over the years, I’ve noticed many advances in the automotive industry that I consider to be age-friendly, so I wanted to do a podcast focused on age-friendly cars. Many of the technology features in newer vehicles help drivers of ALL ages.
However, when I googled “best cars for older drivers”, most of what came up had to do with seating comfort, how easy it was to get in and out of the vehicle, safety ratings, reliability and/or warranties. It was more difficult to find articles focusing on technologies that could make us all safer drivers, particularly as we get older.
Contrary to popular belief, as we age, some of us may prefer to drive cars with all of the technology — but some older adults don’t like all the new bells and whistles — the technology they are used to is what they like. My parents are two great examples — my Dad loves technology, and my Mom wants to keep it simple. You may have gleaned from that statement that I’m more like my Dad, but some of the technology I’ll share also keeps it simple.
With a new driver in my own family I’ve had to learn to use these technologies as a passenger, and have promised my kids that I would try not to “freak out if the car wasn’t,” with all of its sensors and warning capabilities.
Tune in to this episode of This Is Getting Old: Top Car Consideration for Older Drivers: Age-Friendly Technologies/Age-Friendly Cars, to learn about a few of the age-friendly technologies in cars and how they help drivers of all ages.
Key points covered in this episode:
✔️ Blind Spot Information Systems with Cross-Traffic Alert
Blind spot information systems with cross-traffic alerts are great for older drivers and those with reduced mobility–or if you’re the passenger in the vehicle with a newly-licensed driver (like my 16-year-old!). This feature uses sensors to alert drivers, and displays a warning light in the side mirror (and/or make a sounds, depending on your vehicle) when a car is in your blind spot.
✔️ Front 180-Degree Camera with Split View
The front 180-degree camera helps see small children, pets, or other obstacles that may be too close to your car when trying to pull out, with limited visibility for oncoming traffic. A split-view camera can also show you what’s on the front of your car's left and right sides.
I decided this was a good feature when I inadvertently pulled out of a grass parking lot that I thought was level on all four sides, only to drive right into the only ditch. Said ditch was the length of the front of my car, and my older children had a field day laughing at my error while we waited for the tow truck to pull me out. My next vehicle had the front camera, which has proven handy for several intersections in my town and when I drive in Washington, DC.
✔️ Park Assist System for Parallel Parking
Park assist systems are another helpful feature for drivers of all ages. This feature helps you with traditional parallel parking (and some vehicles also assist with perpendicular parking). Parallel parking assist systems are very useful in urban areas where there may not be much room between cars.
And while I love this feature, my 16-year-old son enjoys using this feature and has been quite proud of himself for successfully parallel parking. What he may not realize is that he needs to pay attention to the angles the car uses to parallel park so he can park without this feature — because the chances that his first car will self-park are pretty slim.
✔️ Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go
Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-
In today’s world, there are advances in many age-friendly products and services — meaning that when things are age-friendly, they are friendly for everyone.
Another term I’ve learned for designing age-friendly products is “universal design”. Universal design means products that are accessible for all people — regardless of age, disability or other factors.
Over the years, I’ve noticed many advances in the automotive industry that I consider to be age-friendly, so I wanted to do a podcast focused on age-friendly cars. Many of the technology features in newer vehicles help drivers of ALL ages.
However, when I googled “best cars for older drivers”, most of what came up had to do with seating comfort, how easy it was to get in and out of the vehicle, safety ratings, reliability and/or warranties. It was more difficult to find articles focusing on technologies that could make us all safer drivers, particularly as we get older.
Contrary to popular belief, as we age, some of us may prefer to drive cars with all of the technology — but some older adults don’t like all the new bells and whistles — the technology they are used to is what they like. My parents are two great examples — my Dad loves technology, and my Mom wants to keep it simple. You may have gleaned from that statement that I’m more like my Dad, but some of the technology I’ll share also keeps it simple.
With a new driver in my own family I’ve had to learn to use these technologies as a passenger, and have promised my kids that I would try not to “freak out if the car wasn’t,” with all of its sensors and warning capabilities.
Tune in to this episode of This Is Getting Old: Top Car Consideration for Older Drivers: Age-Friendly Technologies/Age-Friendly Cars, to learn about a few of the age-friendly technologies in cars and how they help drivers of all ages.
Key points covered in this episode:
✔️ Blind Spot Information Systems with Cross-Traffic Alert
Blind spot information systems with cross-traffic alerts are great for older drivers and those with reduced mobility–or if you’re the passenger in the vehicle with a newly-licensed driver (like my 16-year-old!). This feature uses sensors to alert drivers, and displays a warning light in the side mirror (and/or make a sounds, depending on your vehicle) when a car is in your blind spot.
✔️ Front 180-Degree Camera with Split View
The front 180-degree camera helps see small children, pets, or other obstacles that may be too close to your car when trying to pull out, with limited visibility for oncoming traffic. A split-view camera can also show you what’s on the front of your car's left and right sides.
I decided this was a good feature when I inadvertently pulled out of a grass parking lot that I thought was level on all four sides, only to drive right into the only ditch. Said ditch was the length of the front of my car, and my older children had a field day laughing at my error while we waited for the tow truck to pull me out. My next vehicle had the front camera, which has proven handy for several intersections in my town and when I drive in Washington, DC.
✔️ Park Assist System for Parallel Parking
Park assist systems are another helpful feature for drivers of all ages. This feature helps you with traditional parallel parking (and some vehicles also assist with perpendicular parking). Parallel parking assist systems are very useful in urban areas where there may not be much room between cars.
And while I love this feature, my 16-year-old son enjoys using this feature and has been quite proud of himself for successfully parallel parking. What he may not realize is that he needs to pay attention to the angles the car uses to parallel park so he can park without this feature — because the chances that his first car will self-park are pretty slim.
✔️ Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go
Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-
8 min