Hyperdrive
Car Crashes in World’s Oldest Nation Spur Changes by Automakers
- 350,400 people aged 75 or over handed back licenses in 2019
- Crash involving high-profile official put spotlight on issue
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Automakers in Japan, where almost 30% of the population is 65 or older, are taking the lead on adapting cars so the nation’s legions of elderly drivers can feel more confident -- and be safer -- behind the wheel.
A run of accidents involving older people behind the wheel has upped the pressure from regulators to standardize advanced features. Automatic brakes will be required for all new vehicles sold domestically from this year, for example, and companies from Toyota Motor Corp. to Nissan Motor Co. are employing smart technology to make cars more user friendly for older people.