I live in Maine, which has the oldest median age in the United States, so I see more than my fair share of incidents involving seniors behind the wheel. The subject of how and when to consider pulling driver’s licenses from those people is a touchy one around here, but new General Motors tech could help some seniors realize it’s time to hand in the keys.
GM applied for a patent on a system that monitors driver fatigue, calculates reaction times, and assesses outside factors, such as other drivers’ horn use and turn signal use. The application calls it a “System and Method for Determining a Driver Retirement Score,” and drivers can enter personal information, such as medical conditions, which should make the system more accurate and responsive over time. The system can notify the driver’s designated caregiver if there’s a problem.
There is no indication that GM plans to put this technology into production, but it’s not significantly different from the features already installed. Today’s advanced driver-assistance tech isn’t aimed at letting drivers know when it’s time to retire their license, but they can help keep the vehicle on the road and out of collisions with other drivers.
Still, seniors may need a little more help. They accounted for nearly a fifth of traffic fatalities, and many are understandably reluctant to give up the keys. Gentle nudges from the vehicle could help, and it could save family members from the awkward conversation when it’s time to stop driving.
[Images: General Motors]
Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.
