But to the rapidly aging Baby Boomer population, a plunging windowline and promises of 120hp/liter aren’t what matters: strong door hinges and louder warning chimes are. So says Automotive Body Repair News (ABRN), which examines (and predicts) the effect of a growing senior populace on the face of car design.
Advances in active and passive safety top the list of retiree-friendly developments, along with primary and secondary controls that are easier to operate for those with decreasing motor and visual skills. Among the ideas already gaining traction are:
- Easier-to-read gauges
- Larger handles attached to sturdier doors
- Advanced snow and ice removal systems
- Window films to reduce glare
- Larger control knobs
- Lane-deviation and blind-spot warning systems
- Wider, heated seats
Sadly, while on the subject, ABRN fails to address the need for more stringent (and more frequent) driver’s license testing among seniors.