PROVIDENCE – Most older drivers don’t take advantage of safety adjustments to their vehicles that can improve their safety and extend the time they’re able to continue driving, a AAA study shows.
According to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, common vehicle adaptations such as pedal extensions, seat cushions and steering-wheel covers can help to improve safety by reducing a senior driver’s crash risk. The adjustments were recommended in the research brief, “In-Vehicle Technologies, Vehicle Adaptations, and Older Drivers: Use, Learning, and Perceptions.”
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The adjustments are important tools for aging drivers, since seniors aged 65 and older are more than twice as likely as younger drivers to be killed when involved in a crash, AAA reported. The association urged seniors to consider making the necessary adaptations to their vehicles in order to reduce crash risk and extend the time they can continue to drive.
“While many seniors are considered to be safe drivers, they are also the most vulnerable,” said Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast director of public and legislative affairs. “AAA research suggests that most senior drivers are not taking advantage of simple and inexpensive features like steering-wheel covers that can greatly improve their safety and the safety of others on the road.”
The report is the first phase in the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers project. Researchers are currently engaged in generating the largest and most comprehensive senior-driver database in existence. The critical information will support in-depth research to better understand the risks and transportation needs of our aging population.
Researchers investigated 12 vehicle adaptations and found that fewer than 9 percent of senior drivers reported using any of the devices in their vehicles. Some of the inexpensive devices that can be purchased and put to use in new or existing vehicles include:
| Vehicle Device | Potential Safety Impact |
| Cushions and seat pads | Improves line of sight and can help alleviate back or hip pain. |
| Convex/multifaceted mirrors | Improves visibility and minimizes blind spots. |
| Pedal extension | Helps drivers obtain a safe distance from the steering wheel/airbag and optimize visibility. |
| Steering-wheel covers | Improves grip for drivers with arthritic hand joints. |
| Hand controls | Allows the driver to perform all vehicle maneuvers and functions without the use of lower extremities. |
Vehicle adaptions also benefit seniors’ mental health by extending their time on the road. Previous research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that seniors who have stopped driving are almost two times more likely to suffer from depression and nearly five times more likely to enter a long-term care facility than those who remain behind the wheel.
In the LongROAD study, more than 70 percent of senior drivers had experienced health conditions that impact muscles and bones such as arthritis, hip/knee replacement and joint pains. Some seniors in the study reduced their driving due to these conditions. The installation of certain devices such as steering wheel covers can help lessen the impact of arthritis while larger mirrors and assistive devices on seats can help with limited neck mobility.
“It’s surprising that more seniors are not utilizing simple and inexpensive vehicle adaptations when you consider the large number who are dealing with muscle and joint conditions,” said Maguire. “Knowledge is power when it comes to extending time behind the wheel, and AAA is committed to providing seniors with the information they need to make sound decisions.”
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
