RiDC car search for older drivers

Car measurement data helps older drivers find their right car

Increasingly people need specific measurements when choosing a car for their needs. Older drivers, who find bending more difficult, are often looking for a car with higher seats. Carers often want a vehicle that has a large, flat boot to make loading a light mobility scooter or wheelchair in and out easier. Some drivers are looking for small cars with big boots.  Where can people find this data?

Now help is here, with a newly revised online car search. With data on over 1,700 vehicles, the car search helps older people to shortlist suitable vehicles using specific measurements.

The car search is produced by RiDC (the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers), a UK charity providing independent research with disabled and older consumers:  RiDC believes that products and services should be inclusive and accessible for all, from the word go, not as an afterthought.

Using the advanced search people can peruse individual makes and models and use measurements as filters to find vehicles that have no boot sill, lots of legroom, headroom or have high seats. Each vehicle has a PDF factsheet listing all the data with useful photos.

Search by boot dimensions to check the space available if you need to carry anything large such as a mobility scooter, luggage, furniture or a wheelchair. There are also some quick searches based on popular requests.

RiDC also has guidance, based on research with its consumer panel, for older drivers, drivers with specific disabilities - including about car controls - and solutions for getting in and out and getting a wheelchair into a car.