Tech may help steer older drivers down a safer road. #carsafety https://t.co/j4pwyWMIKt pic.twitter.com/yTCNHywDzQ
— IIHS (@IIHS_autosafety) September 7, 2016
Though we may sell used vehicles here at Wedekind Motors, it hasn't stopped us from acquiring the latest innovations in automotive safety. Many of our more recent models, five years old and newer, are equipped with "semi-autonomous" features.
These utilize sensors like radar and cameras, or both, to watch the road for surrounding traffic. Popular examples include blind-spot monitoring, which will give an audible warning or visual signal to the driver when there is something in the vehicle's blind spot, and automatic emergency braking (AEB). Vehicle with AEB systems sense when a frontal collision is imminent, and apply the brakes to slow down or stop if the driver does not respond.
Backup cameras and parking assist features are also useful for getting into and out of parking spaces and driveways.
According to the Detroit News, these features are especially useful to older drivers. Limited range of motion can make scanning for road hazards more difficult, and if an accident does occur, seniors are more likely to receive serious injuries.
Bryan Reimer of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s AgeLab applauded the evolution of crash-prevention technology in the automotive industry.
"Anything that reduces the likelihood or severity of a collision is really a technology that is primed for helping tomorrow's older adults," said Reimer. "We are moving toward an ecosystem where older adults will increasingly be supported by the technology that may help enhance their mobility."
If giving up driving is not part of your retirement plans, visit Wedekind Motors in Schenectady.