Nowadays, you’ll find plenty of cars marketed for the elderly. They usually come with spacious cabins, comfortable seats, and standard driver-assistance features. However, buying a new car when you reach your 60s isn’t exactly a choice for most people. The good news is you can easily transform your current vehicle by installing these must-have car accessories for elderly drivers:
As you get older, your body starts to change. It’s common for the elderly to develop conditions such as arthritis, which can cause stiffness and discomfort. This can make something as simple as looking over your shoulder hard to do. This is where back up cameras come in handy. They’ve been mandatory for all modern vehicles since 2018, but if you own an older car, you’ll have to get one installed.
The good news is that back up cameras can be purchased for a low cost and aren’t labor-intensive to install. Back up cameras improve visibility by displaying the area behind your car when reversing. It minimizes blind spots, which greatly reduces the risk of accidents.
Another way to improve your visibility on the road is by installing a blind spot mirror on your side mirrors. Blind spot mirrors are small convex mirrors that allow you to see multiple angles behind you. With better visibility, you’re less likely to crash into another car when switching lanes.
As you get older, your reflexes slow down, your eyesight gets worse, and your hearing declines. This is nothing to be ashamed of, but these factors put you at greater risk of getting into an accident. To protect yourself in the event of a crash, you might want to invest in a dashboard camera.
Also known as a dash cam, dashboard cameras record every detail on the road as you drive. It collects video evidence that you can use to defend yourself from insurance fraud and other disputes.
As much as possible, you should avoid carrying heavy equipment by yourself. Putting too much stress on your body can lead to painful muscle tears, back injuries, and even musculoskeletal disorders. Ask other people for help, or invest in a high-quality cargo ramp if you drive a truck. With a cargo ramp, you can haul boxes, wheelchairs, and other things on your truck bed without straining your body too much.
Enjoy a comfortable ride by upgrading your old seat cushions. Long drives can get uncomfortable pretty fast, but a high-quality seat cushion can provide better support. Soft seat cushions don’t just offer comfort. They also reduce pressure on your tailbone and hips, improve posture, and give you more energy.
Elderly drivers are much more sensitive to the cold, which can make driving in the winter uncomfortable. Luckily, seat heat pads offer a cost-effective solution to this dilemma. Seat heat pads attach to your car seats and warm you up with the press of a button. Some also have a massage function that can help ease sore muscles.
Is your seat belt constantly digging into your chest? Getting a seat belt pad is a cheap and easy solution to this. Seat belt pads are usually made of soft materials that make wearing your seat belt much more comfortable. They minimize chafing and prevent the seat belt from cutting into your neck, chest, or shoulders.
A grab handle is every elderly driver’s best friend. Grab handles help people easily climb in and out of cars by giving them something to hold onto. This prevents them from having to jump, which can lead to accidents. Most vehicles already come equipped with grab handles, but you can also replace yours if you want to.
If you frequently travel alone, you should always have a roadside emergency kit with you. Roadside emergency kits contain basic tools that can help you address minor repairs. By being prepared, you’ll feel much more confident and independent when traveling alone.
Most kits also have reflective warning triangles and flares, which you can use to signal to other drivers that you need help.
When purchasing an emergency kit, you do not want to buy a cheap one. If you do, the jumper cables are generally very cheap and thin. When the cables are very thin, not enough current can travel through to start a vehicle when it’s dead.
When the jumper cables are too thin, they cannot carry enough energy current to start a vehicle with a dead battery.
–Anthony Harlin, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
Keeping a well-stocked first aid kit in a car is a must for any driver regardless of age. You never know what can happen when you’re on the road, so it’s best to always be prepared. Include personal medications and emergency contact numbers too.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.