Older drivers may feel intimidated by the latest technology available in today’s vehicles. Between tech, safety, and convenience features, it may seem overwhelming if you’re not used to having or using these options. However, some of these available features are beneficial for older drivers because they make the driving experience safer and easier.
Keyless Entry and Ignition
Fumbling around in a purse or pocket to find your car keys is a hassle, so keyless entry and ignition is a great feature. Although keyless entry is almost universally standard, keyless ignition is often available on the higher trim levels or as an option. Some cars also have keypads on the driver door so you can simply punch in a code and get access to the cabin.
With a keyless ignition, it’s as easy as pressing a button to start the engine. As long as the key is within the vehicle, the car will start without requiring you to put the metal into the ignition.
Rearview or Parking Camera
Backing up is challenging whether you’re a new driver or a senior citizen. Starting in 2018, every vehicle must come equipped with a rearview camera. Many manufacturers already offer a backup camera as a standard feature, although some have it as an option. Some of these cameras come with dynamic guidelines that help you see exactly how close you are to cars and other objects around your vehicle. Certain vehicles offer a surround-view parking camera. This system has cameras on all four sides, and it combines these images to give you a top-down view of your car.
Lane Departure Warning
It’s easy to get distracted and drift just outside the lane markers when you’re on the road. However, this common behavior is dangerous, especially when you’re driving in heavy traffic. With lane departure warning, you’ll hear an audible alert as soon as your vehicle gets too close to the lane lines. Some cars take the feature a step further with lane-keep assist. This helpful feature will actually give a gentle nudge to the steering wheel, putting your vehicle back in the center of the lane for safety.
Blind Spot Monitoring
When you’re changing lanes or making a turn, looking over your shoulder every time can actually be dangerous because you’re taking your eyes off the road ahead. It’s also easy to make the lane change without remembering to look. Drivers may even miss vehicles that are driving right in their blind spot. With blind spot monitoring, you’ll hear a beep or chime when you engage the turn signal and the car senses another vehicle in your blind spot. In addition to the sound alert, this system will also illuminate a symbol on the side mirror.
Our knowledgeable staff at Russell & Smith Honda can answer any questions you have about choosing a used or new vehicle with the latest car technology. When you understand the benefits of these features, you can take advantage of them and enjoy a better, safer driving experience.
Image “Rearview camera in our Prius rental” by Wesley Fryer, used under CC BY-SA 2.0
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