Older Drivers
Frequently Asked Questions
10. My car is 9 years old. Is it still safe?
Your old car may be safe, but newer cars have more up-to-date features for safety and comfort. Check to see if your car car has safety features such as front and side airbags, head restraint systems, and electronic stability control. Other helpful features include:
- front and side airbags to protect car occupants in a crash
- properly adjusted head restraint systems to protect against neck injuries
- electronic stability control for crash avoidance
- power steering
- adjustable seats, which help shorter drivers sit high enough to see the road well
- bigger, brighter displays on the dashboard
- large, glare–proof mirrors, or light-sensitive mirrors that darken automatically to reduce headlight glare
- wide-angle rear–view mirrors and convex side mirrors — these may help drivers with neck problems, but they distort distances and take getting used to
- a steering wheel that tilts up or down and moves closer to or farther from the driver’s chest — this helps drivers sit safely and comfortably no more than 10 inches from the steering wheel.
For more information about vehicle safety and recalls, see www.safercar.gov.
