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
Drivers in the study who exercised daily:
- Reported greater ease in turning their heads to see blind spots when changing lanes or to back up;
- Were able to rotate their bodies further to scan the driving environment while making right hand turns;
- Got into their cars more rapidly, demonstrating increased overall flexibility.
Not only does exercising daily contribute to a more positive driving experience, it may also enhance the types of driving-related movements that many people find challenging.
Before you plan your next road trip, check out these eight easy exercises* to help common driving pains.
Strength Exercises
1
Bicep Curls
Recommended: 2 to 3 sets of 8 repetitions per set
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.
2
Squats
Recommended: 2 to 3 sets of 8 repetitions per set
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.
Strength Exercises: Watch and Learn
Range of Motion Exercises
1
Back Stretch
Recommended: Hold for 3 to 5 seconds and repeat on the other side.
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.
2
Heel Drops
Recommended: 8 to 12 repetitions
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.
Range of Motion Exercises: Watch and Learn
Flexibility Exercises
1
Chest and Shoulder Expansion
Recommended: 4 repetitions
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.
2
Shoulder Stretch
Recommended: Hold for 5 to 10 seconds and repeat on the other side. Repeat 1 to 2 times.
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.
Flexibility Exercises: Watch and Learn
Coordination Exercises
1
Soccer Kicks
Recommended: 4 sets of 8 repetitions per set
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.
2
Lateral Steps
Recommended: 4 sets of 8 repetitions per set
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.
Coordination Exercises: Watch and Learn
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. Review and print our exercise guide and come up with your own plan.
- Follow a regular exercise program. 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.
For more information on Exercise for Mature Drivers, practical tools and free guidebooks, visit The Hartford Center for Mature Excellence® website.
*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.
Thank you for Driving Excercise Skills plan to view on You Tube
Would like to have a print out of these exercises please. I can benefit from having them.
Thank you
I just Love love this article.
Thank you Hartford for keeping us alert and active,
Really good exercises, I enjoyed doing them for all round better health
excellent – keep up the good work. This information is needed and come on seniors – do the exercises. I did.
Thank you for the video examples of these easy-to-do exercises and for the link to print out the instructions. I will add them to my physical therapy routine which I do every morning before taking my daily walk. I hope you will add more exercises like these in the future. I’m so happy to be a Hartford customer!
Would like you to mail me a paper copy of these exercises. Thank You
Peggy – We’re so glad you would like to try them. You can print a copy of the exercise guide at home.
These exercises sound really good I am 80 years old. I would like to have a copy of those exercises. Thank you so much.
thanks for this info, I will get startred at once!
A printable list with the concise instructions would be fantastic. Almost all these kinds of articles are too long to print and take too long to write for my own use. These are great exercises to work into my routine but not from a long web page article.
Susan – Check out our printable exercise guide.
This information is great. Can we get CDs to watch at home in order to follow through with these exercises?
Minnie – We’re so glad you like them. We don’t have CDs to send, but you can print out this exercise guide to use at home.
I would like to print the exercises without all the video and extra words in between each one
Eunice – Thanks for reading! Check out the printable version of the exercise guide here.
Thank you for the reminder of all the exercises I know but have not been doing on a regular basis. At my age I really need to do more stretching especially now that my water aerobics classes are no longer available.
Thank you for the good exercise.
Thank you for some good sound advice. Will get started
Wonderful tips. I agree with, Dan Rosenheim, re: the intros. I’d like one continuous video with all the tips along with all the recommended sets and reps. Thanks.
Great feedback! In the meantime, you can print this exercise guide which has them all together minus the videos.
Very informative video. I had no idea about how exercise maintained our agility for driving. Kudos to all at Hartford. Keep up the good work you guys.
Good tips, but could you please lose the long introductions about what you, at The Hartford, believe and the theoretical underpinnings for these exercises. I get it — just want to see video of the exercises theselves without the interminable and less-than-useful intro.
Thanks!
Keep up the good work.
Very good while watching TV. I will make good use of these. Thank you.
I was wondering why our insurance on automobiles jumped from 205$to $399 this month
Hi Margaret – For questions on your account, please contact our customer service center at 800.423.0567. Our agents are available Monday-Friday 7am to 11pm EST and Saturday and Sunday 8am to 6pm EST. Thank you!