Toyota turns to Brain Age professor to help elderly drivers

Toyota's already taken a number of measures to improve the driving of the general population, but it now looks to be taking specific aim at elderly drivers, and it's enlisted the help of a familiar, polygonal face in its efforts. As the AFP reports, Professor Ryuta Kawashima of Brain Age fame is beginning a study in conjunction with Toyota with the goal of creating a vehicle that keeps elderly drivers alert while their driving, which they say could be put into use sometime between 2015 and 2020. That vehicle will apparently be equipped with various devices that "watch the driver's brain activity, automatic nerve reflexes, attentiveness and other mental and physical conditions," according to Kawashima, with it able alert drivers at the slightest sign of danger (not unlike similar systems we've seen aimed at sleepy drivers). We'll just have to wait and see if that'll also involve having drivers shout "red, blue, blue!" at stop lights or not.

[Ahmed Alzayani @ Dec 19th 2007 3:07PM]

Just make the car drive itself. And alert/weak the passenger when it reach its destination

[Derek @ Dec 19th 2007 3:08PM]

Now they need one for people on cell phones...

[adam @ Dec 19th 2007 3:09PM]

How about a system that warns ME of crazy old drivers?

[Speddy @ Dec 19th 2007 3:18PM]

How about one that warns me of you, and keeps you off my lawn!

[adam @ Dec 19th 2007 4:14PM]

Touche :)

[Jonathan Bergeron @ Dec 19th 2007 3:10PM]

The best thing Toyota can do to help old drivers, is get behind legislation that outlaws people over 65 having a drivers license. If a law like that went into effect, it would halve the amount of auto accidents.

[Nikkoli @ Dec 19th 2007 3:41PM]

Making sweeping accusations without facts makes you look stupid.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2007/01/23/GR2007012300078.html

[insertAlias @ Dec 19th 2007 3:41PM]

I dont think a ban is necessary. A yearly mandatory driving exam with a practical (i.e.: getting in the car in an obstacle course) should be required starting at age 60, though. Don't take away the licenses of the ones that don't have the problems.

[NHAnimator @ Dec 19th 2007 3:43PM]

Uh, no. We don't need an outright ban. What needs to be done is periodic TESTING for older drivers - many of which, BTW, are BETTER drivers than the people with their cell phones up to their ears who are always cutting me off and making their own lanes.

If you want to cut down on accidents even more, strengthen/enact graduated licensing for teens.

[Matthew Hilario @ Dec 19th 2007 4:43PM]

by the year 2020 you'll be an elderly driver.

[Jonathan Bergeron @ Dec 19th 2007 9:25PM]

Apparently none of you live in Florida. Old people are horrible drivers; they are no better than the teenagers who just got a license. Taking a license when you hit 65 is necessary.

[ToonPac @ Dec 19th 2007 3:14PM]

"keeps elderly drivers alert while their driving"

I didn't know they owned driving...

[jwtrooper @ Dec 19th 2007 3:29PM]

It's "Red, Broo, Broo"... otherwise it won't know what your saying if it's anything like the DS game. Think that might just frustrate older drivers as I know it did me.

[NHAnimator @ Dec 19th 2007 3:50PM]

Professor Kawashima can speak better English than I can speak Japanese.

[tekdroid @ Dec 19th 2007 6:55PM]

hah, so true. That game needs a better brain...

[Wolfticket @ Dec 19th 2007 4:06PM]

I heard his head is actually polygonal in real life!

[ROBERTO @ Dec 19th 2007 4:43PM]

The gov't should require an annual driving exam, both practical and written, to anyone over the age of 70. They should also offer deep discounts for public transportation (75% off) to anyone over 70.

[Matthew Hilario @ Dec 19th 2007 4:43PM]

wait, so do i buy my grandma a ds?

[tekdroid @ Dec 19th 2007 6:56PM]

8 outta 10 grandmas prefer a Wii (on a big telly)

[steve @ Dec 19th 2007 5:01PM]

I'm waiting for the directional stroop test where you have to drive in the opposite direction from what the GPS points to

[Dave @ Dec 19th 2007 5:09PM]

"You've got injuries."

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2007 6:21PM]

This reminds me of something out of iRobot.

[Dull @ Dec 19th 2007 9:04PM]

Brain Age professor hates my style of writing. It things my 8's are 2's. Hopefully the car doesn't open the trunk when you want to open the drivers door.

[Bernhard @ Dec 19th 2007 9:46PM]

Major cause of Trafic accidents involving people aged over 65: playing a DS with kawashima's Brain Training while driving

[granny down east @ Dec 19th 2007 11:30PM]

That's great! I am so IN on this...it will keep me from zoning out when I am stoned.

Young whippersnappers.

[Naegling @ Feb 21st 2008 11:15PM]

Just get them off the fucking road. Mark my words, we are in for a huge increase in accidents in the future as the "boomers" get older. Hell, most of them can't drive now. Wait until they are 78 and in a 40 foot motor home in the passing lane...

[steven davies @ Apr 21st 2008 11:45AM]

"watch the driver's brain activity, automatic nerve reflexes, attentiveness and other mental and physical conditions,"That sounds great.
But as soon as the car can do this why we have to pass the driver's license test?...
http://www.roadtesttips.com/drivers-license-test.php