by New Driving Assessment System from GM
General Motors has patented an innovative system that calculates a so-called “driver retirement score” based on safety data. This technology tracks factors such as fatigue, reaction time, turn signal usage, and even the frequency of honking by other drivers. The goal is to objectively assess a person’s ability to drive safely, especially in the age category of older drivers.
Relevance of Road Traffic Safety Issues
Statistics show that elderly individuals account for 19% of all fatal road accidents in the United States, creating a serious demand for technological solutions to improve safety. The conversation about whether older relatives should continue to drive is often one of the most difficult in a family. GM’s new system could become a tool to help initiate this dialogue based on specific data, rather than subjective opinions.
How the System Works
Modern cars are already equipped with attention and fatigue assessment systems that analyze driving style, trip duration, time of day, and other factors. GM is expanding this concept by adding monitoring of reaction time, facial expressions (e.g., squinting), speed limit adherence, and even external signals such as honking from other drivers. The system can also take into account medical data and physical capabilities of the driver, provided voluntarily.
The system can notify the driver or a designated family member if it detects safety issues with driving.
Growth of the Market for Technologies for Senior Drivers
According to the CDC, in 2022, there were about 52 million drivers aged 65+ in the United States, which is 77% more than twenty years ago. AAA notes that for the first time in history, people are surviving to an age where they lose the ability to drive safely. This creates a powerful incentive for the development of technologies aimed at supporting road safety among this category of drivers.
Technologies like this could change the approach to driving cessation in old age. Instead of difficult family conversations, the decision can be confirmed by data from the car itself. Although the question of whether the driver will take this information into account remains open, objective metrics may be more convincing than the words of relatives.
The integration of such systems into future car models could significantly reduce the number of accidents involving elderly drivers. Furthermore, it could promote the development of autonomous driving, where technology compensates for the driver’s potential limitations. It is important that such innovations balance safety and respect for the user’s personal independence.
