Many of the changes our bodies experience as we age can affect our ability to drive safely. Choosing a vehicle with the right features can help improve your safety and comfort behind the wheel. Because everyone ages differently, AAA recommends mature drivers look for vehicles with features that address their specific needs and health issues.

Arthritic hands/Diminished fine motor skills
Diminished vision
Limited Range of Motion in Lower Body
Limited Range of Motion in Upper Body
Small-statured
Choosing the Right Vehicle

Arthritic hands and diminished fine motor skills can make simple driving tasks such as: seat belt and key use, adjusting seats and mirrors, and steering more difficult. Features available that can assist with these tasks include:

• Four-door models require less strength to open and close than 2-door models, which have longer, heavier doors.
• Thick steering wheel requires less hand and wrist strength to grip and handle.
• Keyless entry and keyless ignition mounted on the dashboard help avoid pain or difficulty that can occur by turning a key in the lock or ignition.
• Power mirrors and seats are easier to adjust for drivers with limited strength or arthritis.
• Larger dashboard controls with buttons are easier to manipulate than knobs, especially as drivers age and fine motor skills diminish.

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Diminished vision or eye diseases cannot be overcome with vehicle features but, drivers can benefit from a few features when shopping for a new car, such as:

• Visors and extendable sun visors help drivers adjust to and prevent glare.
• Larger audio and climate controls with contrasting text easy-to-see controls make drivers more confident and less distracted.

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Limited range of motion in lower body or painful movement of the joints may make driving uncomfortable. Most often, getting in and out of the car and using foot pedals while driving is difficult. The following vehicle features can help assist with these tasks:

• Seat height and comfort to help ease entry and exit, the ideal seat height is between mid-thigh and lower buttocks. For many, concave bucket seats make it difficult to exit a vehicle.
• Low door threshold makes vehicle entry and exit easier.
• Power seats that adjust six ways: forward, backward, up, down and seat back forward and backward makes it easier to enter and exit vehicles and adjust seats for leg room.

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Limited range of motion in the upper body can make turning to check blind spots, merge or back-up difficult, as well as reaching for and buckling a seatbelt. Drivers with limited upper body range of motion can benefit from the following features:

• Tilt and telescoping steering wheel help the driver find a comfortable position, alleviating neck and shoulder pain.
• Large, wide-angle mirrors help the driver compensate for limited range of motion or difficulties twisting to check for blind spots while merging or backing up.
• Comfortable, heated seats with lumbar support can assist those with back pain.
• Adjustable seat belts assist drivers in reaching for or buckling/unbuckling.

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For small-statured drivers a few inches can make it more difficult to reach the pedals without being too close to the airbag or see above the steering wheel. A few new features in vehicles help individuals make adjustments necessary to improve their safety and comfort:

• Adjustable foot pedals for the brake and accelerator.
• Tilt and telescoping steering wheel helps ensure drivers can be positioned at least 10 inches from the front airbag.
• Six-way adjustable seats upward adjustments help drivers obtain a line of sight above the steering wheel.

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Choosing the Right Vehicle
Mature drivers should choose a vehicle with options that add to their comfort and control and offset any loss of strength or visibility. Generally, bigger vehicles are easier to get in and out of, thanks to more head room and leg room. The only way you can determine if a vehicle is right is to try it out. As you get in and out of the vehicle, notice if you have to bend awkwardly or step up too high.

Use this checklist to help select the right vehicle:

• Power steering
• Power, anti-lock brakes
• Automatic transmission
• Side and dual-stage/threshold airbags
• Head restraints and extra padding
• Large, well-lit gauges
• Automatic climate control
• Power-adjustable side mirrors with features to minimize blind spots
• Power windows and door locks
• Dynamic stability control
• Adaptive equipment, such as hand controls

Also, check these factors:

• Can you easily adjust the height and tilt of the seat?
• Is the top of the steering wheel no higher than your shoulders?
• If not, can you tilt or adjust the steering column adequately?
• Does the seat belt fit? Many new vehicles have adjustable shoulder belt anchors that can help the belt system fit better.
• Can you comfortably reach the foot pedals? Are they adjustable?
• What about the climate controls, radio, door locks and window switches?

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