As we age simple everyday routines may become difficult to perform, including driving. The advanced technologies we see in vehicles are not just for convenience or to make our latest phone compatible with our vehicle's sound system, but to keep drivers alert and safe. The Hartford and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) reported the top ten safety technologies for vehicles that are useful for all drivers behind the wheel, but especially for those aged 50 and older.

The majority of these top technologies are systems that produce a warning or awareness to drivers, the top ten are: 

• Smart headlights
• Emergency response systems
• Reverse-monitoring systems
• Blind-spot warning systems
• Lane departure warning systems
• Vehicle stability control
• Parking assist systems
• Voice-activated systems
• Crash-mitigation systems
• Drowsy driver alerts 

These safety alerts can address several issues drivers face as they age, including impaired vision during nighttime driving. It has been reported that 1 out of 4 mature drivers is concerned about their vision while driving at night. The safety feature that address this issue are the smart headlights, which are equipped with “camera-like technology in the front of a vehicle that automatically adjust the intensity and range of the beam based oncoming traffic,” (The Hartford, MIT List Top 10 Car Safety Technologies, John Pirro, Online Auto Insurance News,http://news.onlineautoinsurance.com/consumer/car-insurance-safety-technologies-98104). These headlights are not only supposed to help illuminate better, but also reduce glare.

For drivers who have a reduced range of motion and/or reaction time, the blind-spot warning system is great for alerting drivers when an object enters their blind spots. When low mobility is a concern, repositioning to face the rear of the vehicle when backing may also prove to be a challenge. That's where reverse monitoring cameras come in handy which allow drivers to see what is behind them on a screen implanted into the dashboard.

Although some of these technologies may take some time to get acquainted with initially, the assistance these systems provide are worth the adjustment. Beyond the safety these features provide they can also alter a driver's attitude so reported MIT's Age Lab with 65% of drivers over the age of 50 reporting that the latest technologies in their vehicles made them feel more confident, (The Hartford, MIT List Top 10 Car Safety Technologies, John Pirro, Online Auto Insurance News).