Car technologies that help protect senior drivers

In later life, many of us don’t change over our cars as often as we used to. That can mean we end up with a car that still has plenty of life left in it, but one that is not as good at reducing the harm to us as its occupants and to other road users as a safer, newer car might.

You might think it is a clever marketing ploy to get people to buy newer cars, but the statistics back up the claim that older cars are not as safe. Put simply, the number of older cars that are involved in crashes is over-represented in the crash statistics.

Newer cars are almost always safer and, of all road users, seniors are among those who can benefit most from driving and travelling in later-model cars.

As the Australian population continues to age, seniors are going to represent a larger proportion of drivers in coming years. According to Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission (TAC), the number of senior drivers who hold a driver’s licence has already doubled in the last 20 years alone. In 2019, there were 533,000 drivers aged 70 or above on Victorian roads.

Frailty and issues associated with ageing create a risk for drivers as they advance in age, while these factors also increase the chances of serious injury or death in the event of a crash.

The TAC’s Acting Manager, Road Safety Research, Insights and Evaluation, Dr David Young, underlines the importance of road safety for this category of motorist. “We need to support senior drivers as they get more fragile, and more vulnerable,” he says. “Senior drivers are less able to absorb the forces involved in a crash.”

The best advice is to drive the safest car you can afford; a current five-star-rated vehicle includes many features to help keep you safe.

The bonus with a newer car is that, like for like, it will be more efficient, easier to get serviced, service knowledge will be better and parts easier to find than for an old car. Car manufacturers are also designing cars that are easier to get into and out of these days, which is something you appreciate far more as you age. You are more likely to find a more accessible car if it is newer.

Dr Young also points to the significant advances in active safety technology that don’t replace driving skills but will help support senior drivers. “Some of these technologies help enhance vision when driving,” says Dr Young. “Even though you should always do a head check, some senior drivers may find it a bit trickier to do so than before. Support features like blind-spot warning and rear cameras allow you to not twist in your seat and can be really helpful in supporting driver vision.

“Many vehicles are also getting hard to see out of regardless of how carefully you look. Technology such as blind-spot warning allows you to have the extra peace of mind.”

Some new car technology might not appear to improve safety directly, but can certainly help seniors when driving, as Dr Young explains. “Even technology such as active cruise control can be very good in giving senior drivers confidence on high-speed roads.”

Dr Young also points out some of the basics. “Given that people become more fragile as they age, simply as part of the ageing process, there is a really big focus on reducing crash forces,” he says. “So, things like making sure you’re wearing a seatbelt properly and that it is well fitted, are important. Also, that your car has as many airbags as you can afford and has a five-star safety rating.”

Dr Young also points to the practical things that can be done, even if a newer car is not affordable. “Pick the right times to drive,” he says. “Avoid driving at night or in poor weather and, if you have to drive in such conditions, give yourself more space on the road and take it easy.”

There are also other factors involved as we age and many of us reach retirement: we simply don’t need to drive as much as we used to. “Maybe you’re driving less overall,” Dr Young points out, “and so you are less likely to be adapted to the stresses of driving. So avoid peak hour, if you can, and drive when the traffic is lighter.

“Sometimes just removing the stress of driving completely at times can be helpful, if you are able to do so. If you are in the position to make the choice, you could travel via a different method, for example using a taxi or public transport.”