Eight Easy Exercises That May Make You a Better Driver

Exercise can have many benefits for your physical and mental well-being. But did you know it may also help you be a safer driver? Driving is often synonymous with independence and freedom. It enables us to come and go as we please and allows us to travel, run everyday errands, and visit friends and family. And exercising just 15 to 30 minutes a day has the potential to enhance your driving experience.

Backed By Research

Along with the MIT AgeLab, The Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence^® researched the connection between physical exercise and driving. And we found some fascinating results.

We tracked experienced drivers ages 60 to 74 as they followed a physical fitness program for 15-20 minutes per day over eight to 10 weeks. Our research shows a link between daily exercise and its benefits to overall driving wellness.

The participants completed an exercise program that focused on four areas:

• Flexibility
• Range of motion
• Strength
• Coordination

Before you plan your next road trip, check out these eight easy exercises to help common driving pains.

Strength Exercises

For this exercise, elastic tubing with handles provides for effective strength training. Elastic tubing is color coded for resistance and can be purchased at any sporting goods store or online. If you don’t have a resistance band, consider using dumbbells or something you already have at home like soup cans.

Bicep curls can be performed from either a standing or a seated position. Place the elastic tubing under your feet with your toes down to prevent the tubing from rolling off your toes. Place your feet on the floor in a narrow or wide stance to adjust the tube to the length and resistance tension most comfortable for you. Begin with your elbows straight, palms facing forward and elbows tucked in at your waist. Exhale as you bend your elbows and raise your hands up close to your shoulders.

Squats are an excellent exercise to increase lower body strength. They may even help you if you have to slam on the brakes.

Stand tall with your feet hip distance apart and your toes pointing forward. Bend your hips and knees and push your hips back as if sitting in the air. Raise both arms forward to counter balance your hips moving back. Inhale on the downward phase of the squat, exhale as you return to the standing position. You can even hold onto a chair for balance.

Range of Motion Exercises

For more comfortable right hand turns, try stretching your back for 3 to 5 seconds. From a seated position, cross your right leg over your left leg either at the knee or the ankle. With your chest up and shoulders down, contract your abdominals and slowly rotate your upper body to the right. Keeping both hips in contact with the chair, hold at the point of tension for up to five seconds.

To keep the pedal to the metal (safely!), try heel drops to maximize ankle strength and flexibility. From a seated position, slowly alternate pointing and flexing your toes and ankles. Hold each point and flexed position for 3 to 5 seconds. Think of the driving action required for your feet to point and flex at the ankle as they press on the brake and accelerator pedals.

Flexibility Exercises

Chest and shoulder expansions are beneficial for greater mobility and flexibility for turning your head when backing out. From a seated position, sit forward in your chair and place your hands low on the back frame of the chair. Lean forward at your hips until your elbows are straight. Inhale while lifting your chest, exhale as you lean forward at your hips and stretch your shoulders.   

Try stretching your arm across your body by holding your opposite arm on your tricep and pulling gently. This will help with your range of motion. From a seated or standing position, maintain good posture with your chest lifted, shoulders down and abdominals tight. Cross your right arm over your chest (below shoulder height) and hold in place with your left hand above the elbow for a shoulder and back stretch.

Coordination Exercises

Soccer kicks are great for improving reaction time, agility, balance and coordination. On a flat surface area, warm up with low kicks, alternating right and left kicks. Stand tall with good posture – chest up and shoulders down. Kick across your body with a slight bend in your knees. Let both arms move in the opposite direction your leg is kicking.

Follow up with a few lateral steps to improve integration of movement in your upper and lower body in addition to agility, balance and coordination. On a flat surface area, start with your feet together and step sideways right and left – with your feet moving as wide as you are comfortable. Keep a slight bend in your knees as you step to the right and left. Place your hands on your hips or move your arms up and down at the shoulder. Breathe evenly and continuously.

How to Get Started

Exercises like these are easy to learn, can be done anywhere and can be done in combination with your current exercise program. To add or begin an exercise program to boost your driving wellness:

• Check with your health provider on the best exercise plan for you.
• Remember that small, incremental changes are more likely to stick. You can always keep building on your momentum.
• To set yourself up for success, connect with friends and build it into your calendar. Try to spend at least 15 to 30 minutes a day being active, even if you just start with a walk around the block or cleaning the kitchen.

Readers are encouraged to consult with their physician before beginning this or any exercise program.

The Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence^® creates innovative business solutions for the mature market. Staffed by gerontologists, the center is uniquely positioned to apply knowledge of aging to develop one-of-a-kind products and services for The Hartford’s customers, and specialized training for The Hartford’s employees.  The center conducts original research in partnership with academic institutions and produces public education programs on safety, mobility and independence. The Hartford has had this in-house expertise since 1984, guiding The Hartford to unparalleled success in understanding and serving the mature market.