Prime Time

POSTED: Monday, May. 18, 2009

Seniors can retool their car for safety, comfort

Senior citizens who keep on driving can take extra steps to make sure their vehicle is well-suited for them.

"Vehicles have come a long way in both safety and comfort in the last five or 10 years," says Jennifer Cook of the American Automobile Association. "It is very important for mature drivers to educate themselves on what features a car has, and how to optimize those features for maximum safety."

Above all, don't be afraid to ask questions.

"Read your owner's manual," Cook says. "That is the bible to your vehicle. It will explain everything and instruct you on how to make the adjustments, as well."

Here are some helpful things to do and to consider:

• Check your vehicle's crashworthiness. People can see a vehicle's crash test and rollover ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at safercar.gov/.

• Look for side, dual-stage and dual-threshold air bags. Side air bags protect the torso, pelvis and head. Dual-stage and dual-threshold air bags are recommended because senior drivers risk injury if air bags deploy with too much force.

• Consider head restraints and extra padding. Head restraints move forward to cushion the head, reducing the risk of neck injuries when a car is hit from behind. Interior crash protection, such as extra padding, also can minimize injuries in a crash.

• Opt for antilock brakes. An antilock braking system, or ABS, prevents wheels from locking during emergency breaking. Drivers using ABS can stop the car and retain control without "pumping" the brakes, which can be challenging for older drivers.

• Look at dynamic stability control. This feature helps prevent loss of control in a turn, especially on slippery roads, enabling drivers to compensate for slower reaction times and to make quick corrections.

• Switch to a four-door model. Four-door vehicles require less strength to open and close doors than two-door models, which have longer doors.

• Get a tilting and telescoping steering wheel. The extra adjustments can help older drivers find a safe distance from the front air bag, as well as a comfortable position that alleviates back, knee and hip pain.

• Install a thick steering wheel. Such wheels require less hand and wrist strength to grip the handle.

• Go for power mirrors and seats. Those features are easier to adjust for drivers with limited strength or arthritis.

• Study the dashboard. Large dashboard controls and buttons are easier to manipulate than knobs, especially as drivers' fine-motor skills diminish.

• Sit with comfort. A vehicle with comfortable, heated seats with lumbar support can help drivers with back pain.

• Bigger mirrors are better. Replace those small, hard-to-see mirrors with large, wide-angle ones. That can help older drivers compensate for limited range of motion, or difficulties twisting to check for blind spots while merging or backing up.

SAFE DRIVING TIPS

Maureen Kane, supervisor of the Senior Information and Assistance Program, says older drivers can be safe drivers if they do the following:

• Avoid driving at dusk or after dark.

• Avoid busy areas, rush hour, school zones, left turns and bad weather.

• Let others drive, and be open to other forms of transportation.

• Ask family members and friends for advice about your driving.

• Plan your shopping trips and appointments for mid-morning, when you are most alert.

• Eliminate distractions; don't chat, talk on the phone or listen to the radio while driving.

• Plan your route ahead of time, and use passengers as co-pilots to help you navigate.

• Have your hearing and eyesight checked regularly.

• Exercise regularly. Exercise is shown to decrease the risk of having an accident.

• Take a refresher course for older drivers.

• Give other cars lots of room; always be alert and prepared for the unexpected.

WHEN THE TIME HAS COME

AARP spokesperson Jason Erskine offers these signs to help you know when it's time to retire from driving:

• You experience frequent close calls or near-accidents.

• You find dents and scrapes on the car or on fences, mailboxes, garage doors and curbs.

• You have trouble judging gaps in traffic at intersections and on highway on and off ramps.

• Other drivers honk at you.

• You become lost.

• You have difficulty seeing the sides of the road when looking straight ahead.

• You experience a slower response time and have trouble moving your foot from the gas to the brake pedal, often confusing the two.

• You become distracted easily or have trouble concentrating on the road.

• You have difficulty turning your head to check over your shoulder while back up or changing lanes.

Lindsay Hamsik is a Bellingham freelance writer.