Transportation » Private Automobiles
Why It's Important
Driving is important for the mobility of older adults with most of the population
relying on private automobiles for their transportation needs. The driver's personal
mobility is affected by their ability to operate a vehicle safely. Some older adults
experience a higher rate of visual problems, medication side effects, and other
physical limitations that can compromise their driving ability, yet still retain
their licenses.
See Data By: Richmond MSA | Virginia
| National
How Richmond Is Doing
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How Virginia Is Doing
Statewide Survey
According to AARP Virginia Member Survey 2007:
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Nearly all (95%) members say they or a member of their household has driven a car
or motor vehicle in the past month.
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More than nine out of ten (92%) members indicate they drive when they need and want
to go someplace. For members who are 75 and older (drive, 76% and ride share 61%)
or who have poor health and disability status (HDS) (drive, 75% and ride
share 49%), the number who say they primarily drive drops and the percentage of
those who say they ride share increases.
How the U.S. Is Doing
As Baby Boomers age, it will be important for the private automobile industry to
adapt to their needs. According to a March 2008 article in Business Week,
Nissan has an “aging suit” for its designers, which helps them to understand
how it feels to be older and have limited mobility and sight. Nissan will not be
designing a car specifically for aging Boomers, but feel that improved ergonomics
benefit everyone. GM is adding extra features like blind spot monitoring and lane-departure
warnings to their cars to help disadvantaged drivers. They are also working on “vehicle-to-vehicle”
communications to help identify when cars are stopping ahead. They are also increasing
the size of fonts on their instrument panels. Some high-end luxury carmakers like
Mercedes-Benz and BMW are including night-vision cameras to help combat decreased
ability to see in the dark as one ages. However, those features are expensive and
the bugs have not all been worked out. Other automobile makers, such as Hyundai
are providing adjustable pedals. Many makers already make simpler features available
including ride height that is not too high or too low, thicker steering wheels,
and clearly marked buttons and knobs on the dashboards.
Data & Information Sources
AARP, Virginia Member Survey 2007: Transportation
Needs Assessment, January 2008
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/general/va_member_07_transport_needs.pdf
Business Week: The Coming Boom in Boomer-Friendly Transport
www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/may2008/bw2008059_070594.htm
