The oldest boomer is around 78 years old. It is around this age that older adults start experiencing a decline in their physical and cognitive abilities, which means increased chances of getting into an accident.
Luckily for baby boomers, their physical and cognitive decline is coming at a time when technological advancement in the automotive industry has made cars pretty safe, with experts hailing the advancements as an excellent way to help senior citizens stay safe on the road.
Elderly Driver Limitations
To understand how technology is helping elderly drivers avoid accidents, it is best to start by understanding the challenges the elders face. Key challenges affecting older adults include reduced vision, reduced reaction times, reduced cognitive function, and physical limitations.
These functions are very critical for the safe operation of the vehicle, and you can never be a safer substitute. However, technologies can come in to mitigate the effects they have on an individual, allowing older adults an added layer of safety.
Technologies That Enhance Elderly Driver Safety
Crash Avoidance System
Crash avoidance is arguably the most important safety feature in the automotive industry. These systems utilize cameras and or sensors to detect obstacles, such as a person or another vehicle, and send commands to the car system to initiate emergency braking automatically when the driver doesn't act quickly in a situation.
With declining cognitive and physical abilities for older adults, some situations tend to find them unaware, and this is where crash avoidance systems become game changers.
Telematics Monitoring
Telematics monitoring focuses on driver behavior. It utilizes onboard tools such as GPS trackers and other onboard sensors to track a driver's acceleration, braking, and cornering, providing actionable insight into their driving habits while also identifying areas that could use improvements.
These tools work best when there is another person following up and looking up the data, such as their caregiver, because it can help advise them on the best course of action to stay safe while on the road. Where the nature of their problem on the road poses a high risk, it is best to get them off the road for their safety and that of other road users.
Lane Assist and Cruise Control
Lane assist helps keep a driver in their lane by giving audio or visual warnings if they drift out of a lane. At other times, they perform automatic steering corrections to keep the driver in their lane.
Cruise control does more than keep a driver in their lane. It is more of an autopilot function that helps a driver stay in the lane and drive relative to the speed of the driver ahead of them without having to accelerate or brake.
This is especially helpful when on the highway and at a cruising speed. When the car in front decelerates, it automatically engages the brake to match its speeds, including bringing a vehicle to a stop when the leading stops.
Liability in an Accident
Having advanced car safety features doesn't take away the duty of care from a driver. The law still holds them liable for an accident, which is a feature that doesn't step in to avoid an accident. It's also important to note that not all accidents are a result of an elderly driver error. In some cases, they find themselves on the receiving end.
If you have found yourself in such a scenario in Indianapolis, get an experienced lawyer and have them fight for you in court against insurance companies who will likely try to pay you or your loved one as little as possible.
Final Words
Technological advancements in the automotive industry have significantly helped improve the safety of elderly drivers. However, the responsibility for the safety of other road users lies with the driver who causes an accident.