For most people, driving represents independence and freedom. However, with limited hand mobility and reduced strength, everyday tasks like steering the wheel, adjusting a seat, or opening the liftgate can become extremely uncomfortable for people with various conditions.
Fortunately, many modern vehicles offer features designed to reduce physical effort and make your drive much more comfortable. These features won’t eliminate joint pain, but they may help reduce strain during daily driving.
Push Button Start
A simple task like turning a traditional key can be uncomfortable when you have limited hand mobility or finger and wrist stiffness. Push-button start lets you start the vehicle with a simple press, eliminating the twisting motion required to turn the key on a traditional ignition. What could be considered a small convenience for many could be something you appreciate when you get behind the wheel.
Electronic Parking Brake
Many newer vehicles have replaced the traditional pedal- or hand-operated parking brake with an electronic switch. Pushing a button to activate and release the brake requires less force than pulling a manual lever or pressing a floor pedal. This requires less grip strength and can make everyday driving a bit easier.
Power Steering
Power steering has been common in passenger vehicles for decades and reduces the effort needed to turn the wheel, especially while parking or maneuvering at low speeds. During your test drive, pay attention to steering effort, since it can still vary between vehicles.
A newer feature, 4-wheel steering, can also help in tight spaces. At low speeds, the rear wheels turn slightly to help the vehicle make tighter turns, which may reduce the amount of steering needed in parking lots, narrow driveways, or garages.
Heated Steering Wheel
Cooler temperatures can make joints feel stiff and even more uncomfortable than normal. Heated steering wheels warm your hands within a few minutes of starting the vehicle. This helps improve comfort in cold weather, and while it may seem like a luxury feature, many drivers find that it becomes one of the conveniences they use most during the winter months.
Power-Adjustable Seats
It’s important to be comfortable while driving your vehicle, whether you’re going on a long road trip or just running short errands. Power-adjustable seats make it easier to find a seating position using buttons instead of a manual lever. You can adjust things like lumbar support, seat height, and seat cushion angle to find positions that feel more comfortable.
A driver memory setting can also make your life easier if multiple people use the vehicle. At the press of a button, the vehicle can automatically return the driver’s seat to a saved position, without requiring you to make those adjustments manually.
Power Liftgate
In SUVs and crossovers, liftgates can require significant effort to open. A power liftgate allows you to open and close the rear hatch with a button on your key fob, or, in some vehicles, with a hands-free foot motion.
Larger Physical Controls
Many vehicles rely heavily on touchscreens, but physical buttons and knobs can be easier to operate if you have decreased dexterity. Larger buttons or knobs for climate controls, volume, and window switches can be easier to locate and operate without requiring precise finger movement. Voice control can further reduce the need to reach for a touchscreen. Depending on the vehicle, you may be able to make phone calls, enter navigation destinations, change music, or adjust certain settings simply by speaking. During your test drive, try using both the physical controls and the voice assistant to see which feels more intuitive.
Trim levels include specific features or optional packages. Verify that the features required to meet your specific accessibility needs are included before purchasing a vehicle.
The best vehicle for someone with reduced strength or arthritis isn’t necessarily the one that is most technologically advanced. It’s the one that is most comfortable to operate. During any test drive, spend extra time interacting with the features you will use every day. That could mean adjusting the seat, repeatedly turning the steering wheel while parking, opening and closing the liftgate, or simply testing the entertainment controls. A few extra minutes at the dealership can help you choose a vehicle that’s better suited to your needs and more comfortable to drive every day.
