How older Americans are grappling with hanging up their car keys

The first clip Vonciel Gray sewage down nan instrumentality of a car, Dwight Eisenhower was president. But contempt a cleanable grounds pinch nary accidents complete nan decades that followed, nan 85-year-old knew 3 years agone her driving days were over.

"I drove to religion 1 morning, I was a tense wreck," Gray said. "I deliberation I ran a reddish light, and erstwhile I sewage home, I said, 'No more,'"

Gray is 1 of millions of older Americans grappling pinch a abrupt nonaccomplishment of independency aft hanging up their keys. Her son, Kurt Gray, has spent his full profession cultivating safe drivers, truthful nan determination deed adjacent to him.

"One of my specialties is simply a elder driving evaluation, wherever I look astatine a person's cognitive function, their mobility, their vision, and past will spell retired and spot really safe they are down nan instrumentality of a car," Kurt said.

Kurt worked for AAA for 29 years and now owns postulation information consulting patient KEG Consulting LLC Driver Safety Services. He helps families navigate nan difficult speech of erstwhile a loved 1 should extremity driving.

"They don't prosecute their parents early capable successful nan conversation," Kurt said. "Conversation is, 'Hey mom aliases dad, you know, I'm seeing these dents and dings connected your car. Maybe we should look astatine different modes of transportation.'"

By 2030, an estimated 71 cardinal group successful nan U.S. will beryllium 65 and older, which would relationship for 21% of nan population, according to nan U.S. Census Bureau.

"Given nan aging of nan society, we are headed for a awesome mobility spread successful nan United States," said Joseph Coughlin, who runs nan Age Lab astatine MIT and studies really proscription and exertion tin amended nan lives of older people. "We're not testing older drivers. Instead, we look astatine really are caller technologies down nan instrumentality either helping aliases distracting?"

To do that, Coughlin and his squad person designed a simulator pinch sensors that way bosom rate, oculus movements and accent levels arsenic a driver encounters simulated distractions. Coughlin past provides information to automakers.

"We're helping car companies rethink really they designed nan vehicle," Coughlin said.

No magnitude of exertion will beryllium capable to guarantee information for immoderate aging drivers, which is why Vonciel Gray knew it was clip to put down nan keys and trust connected hitching rides from family and friends.

Three years later, Vonciel says, "I deliberation it was 1 of nan champion decisions I've made successful my aged age."

Now she's capable to bask her status successful nan passenger's seat.

In:
• Senior Citizens