The senior
population is a powerful consumer force. We possess 40 percent
of the discretionary income in the U.S. and dominate spending in
many consumer categories including automobiles. Statisticians estimate
that one-third of all drivers were over 55 at the dawning of the
year 2000.
While nearly every car company recognizes
the special demands of this driver, General Motors took a major
step forward recently when they announced the formation of the
GM Mobility Center. The Center, says GM, is a comprehensive
organization that will identify and implement changes that affect
people with disabilities, as well as address issues affecting
the growing population of people over 50 years of age.
"General Motors must work with
mature drivers and people with disabilities to form stronger relationships
between engineering, manufacturing and sales," said John Gaydash,
GM Mobility Center's new director. "For many years, various parts
of GM have placed importance on these vital groups, now we will
manage all of those activities as one cohesive group."
But will they also address some of the
stuff that causes driver irritability? Like, why are the buttons
in a different place in every vehicle and why are they so hard
to use in some cars? No one needs the stress
of trying to find the controls for the windshield wipers, high
beams, windows or other parts in an unfamiliar car. Many
seniors are subjected to this annoyance when driving rental cars
or test driving new vehicle candidates.
Manufacturers tend to have the controls
in the same place across their own car or truck lines, but they
haven't made much effort to co-operate with each other so that
they are in the same place in every vehicle, regardless of make.
It's about sharing information and that's not easy in an industry
as highly competitive as the automotive business.
Besides placing them in a standard place,
radio and climate controls ought to be easy to reach and to operate.
A car with dozens of buttons the size of a pin located far down
on the dash is not very user-friendly.
And how about making gauges easier to
read? Manufacturers have the technology to produce heads-up
displays," which reflect fuel levels and other information from
a semi-transparent screen coated onto the front windshield. But
this technology is seen only on a few cars. Heads-up display is
designed to spare older eyes from constantly switching between
peering at the dash and watching the road. General Motors and
some Japanese auto makers offer the feature in some of their models,
but that's about it.
Another thing. Right side mirrors
should be improved to give a more accurate reflection of where
other cars are. The hard-to-read-for-anyone warning about
cars being closer than they appear could use a reality check.
An over-sized rear-view mirror may have its advantages for seeing
what's happening with the grandkids in the back seat, but when
it blocks the forward view, it's a hazard. Another view-blocker
auto makers need to address is the brace between the front and
rear doors, the B pillar, if you will. It should be positioned
so that it doesn't impede vision during over-the-shoulder checks.
The goal should be to offer vehicles
that reduce the stress of driving. A comfortable, stress
free driver is a safer driver. Features like driver's seats
that adjust up and down as well as forward and backward provide
greater comfort. Lumbar adjustments relieve aching muscles.
Heated seats not only bring comfort in cold climes, the heat eases
joint and back pain that comes with growing older.
Another feature older drivers may want
to consider and manufacturers should attend to when marketing
to the senior is the diameter of the steering wheel.
A fatter wheel is much easier to use for someone with arthritis,
as they don't have to close their hands as tight. Reduced
pain makes for safer driving.
There are other things that car manufacturers
could and should do to make driving safer and more comfortable
for those in their senior years. Brake pedals should be
a standard width and wide enough so feet wouldn't slip off them
easily. And how about including a permanent car phone
capable of summoning roadside assistance 24 hours a day?
Features like General Motors OnStar and navigational systems
in Acura, Mercedes Benz and other cars are excellent for help
and information. They should be in more vehicles.
Hopefully, General Motors Mobility Center
is the beginning of a long list of auto maker efforts to address
the needs of the senior driver.
And, hopefully, they'll all work together
to attend to the small, irritating stuff, too.
