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Automakers Design Safer Cars to Prevent Accidents Involving Senior Citizens

By the year 2030, over 20 percent of the drivers in this country will be over the age of 65.  That translates into a larger number of motorists on the road who may face physical and mental limitations that could impact their ability to drive safely.  Older people have an accident rate that’s as high as teen motorists, although for entirely different reasons. As a report by NPR shows, automakers are beginning to factor in these limitations of senior citizens, in their auto design plans.

Designing for senior citizens is not exactly a new concept. However, engineers and auto designers, who tend to be younger, used to find it difficult to understand the kind of physical limitations older drivers experience. Ford got over this issue by developing an “aging suit.” The suit consisted of heavy padding that automatically adds 30 years to a person’s life.  The automaker simulated driving conditions as experienced by the elderly in its Virtual Environment Lab, with test drivers wearing special aging suits, gloves and goggles. Observers sitting outside could see exactly what kind of problems the driver faced, and fix the issue.

Other automakers are also using technology to develop senior-friendly cars. General Motors’ Human Machine Interface Division is developing a special windshield to help senior motorists compensate for any difficulties in vision. The glass throws up images of possible obstructions on the road like an animal, and outlines it so it’s more clearly visible to the motorist.  This technology is still in the stages of development, and it will only be available in the market after at least six years. To California personal injury lawyers who would like to see more auto enhancements that will allow senior motorists to drive safer, these measures seem like just what the doctor ordered.

The driving abilities of senior citizens have been a subject of debate. These issues were brought into focus in 2006, when an 86-year-old man lost control of his car and crashed into an open air market in Santa Monica. 10 people died in the carnage that followed, mainly shoppers who were sent flying as the runaway car knocked them off their feet. George Russell was convicted on 10 felony counts, but was let off on probation because he was exceedingly ill and frail.

The incident had sparked a national debate on whether elderly motorists must be required to undertake road tests when they appear for license renewals. Senior citizens have been outraged at the thought of any special discrimination based on age. As they say, there tend to be fewer accidents involving senior drivers. Although this may be true, it is a fact that elderly motorists at the wheel face numerous challenges as they navigate California’s notoriously congested streets. These drivers may suffer from vision problems and hearing issues that may impact their ability to see clearly and hear signals from other motorists. Reflexes may have slowed down, and conditions like arthritis may make sudden movements in an emergency, harder to execute. Besides, these people are more likely to suffer from medical ailments that could trigger off an attack while driving.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of auto accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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