You’ve probably been there: Grandpa’s driving scares the daylights out of you. It looks like it’s time for him to “hang up the keys.” Now General Motors looks like it could be getting into the act. GM has filed a patent for a new system that could help determine when a driver should consider retiring from driving. The aging driver safety patent, published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on August 28, 2025, lists three Michigan-based engineers as inventors.
The system, which GM calls a “driver retirement score,” collects information from both the driver and the vehicle to measure how safely someone can continue to drive. Drivers are then placed into categories like “acceptable,” “questionable,” or “unacceptable,” depending on their score.
How the aging driver safety system would work
The system gathers data in several ways. It can track medical conditions and other personal details provided by the driver, while sensors, cameras, and onboard technology monitor driving behavior. Things like reaction time, lane keeping, and speed are all factored into the overall score.
While the patent is presently just that—a piece of paper with legal protections—just what happens from here is anyone’s guess. If GM were to move forward and put such a plan into production, it leads to plenty of questions. Just who receives the computer judgment of a driver’s ability: The driver? The family? Insurance company? Government agencies?
Depending on how the system worked in practice, it could prove useful for RVers. Long drives towing rigs can be physically demanding, and knowing when it’s time to hand the keys over could help prevent accidents—if the system alerted on a “short term” basis.
GM says the system can also provide updates over time, showing whether driving skills are improving or declining, and it can generate reports with recommendations tailored to the driver.
While deciding when to stop driving is always a personal choice, GM’s technology could give older drivers—and their families—a clear, data-driven guide to making that decision safely. Beyond retirement, the system could also flag issues like distracted or impaired driving, helping keep roads safer for everyone.
Sources include gmauthority.com
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This seems like a nice idea but GM is known for gathering “info” without the owner of the vehicle’s permission. Last thing we need is Big Brother taking over with corporate help.
2+2=5. Big Brother says so!
If this ever was implemented it should be on all vehicles for all drivers. There are plenty of drivers who are impaired, distracted, or just plain reckless and who aren’t “old”.
So true!!!
Absolutely agree !
This sounds like a personal discrimination violation.
It may even be a violation of the First Amendment.
GM has no right to gather any information that violates anyone of their rights.
The only one’s that may be able to do it are the persons healthcare professionals and law enforcement agencies who can refuse to allow the license to be renewed.
That still won’t stop these people from driving.
I don’t need electronics or A.I. telling me how I’m driving,
I already have DW doing that for me now ..🙃
Thank you, Russ and Tina! Seems it should be held closely just as medical information is. If the person adds others to the list of people to whom the data are released, then they get the numbers too. Otherwise, only the particular individual ever gets the numbers. Have a great day and safe travels!
5 minutes into a drive I swerve to miss a squirrel and my SUV flashed me a warning that I should take a break. I can imagine this vehicle rating my driving skills.
Good luck getting that accepted.
If it works as well as their vehicles we have nothing to worry about…or maybe a lot!
If GM implements it in their vehicles. Then we don’t buy or lease them. To many business and people violating our privacy and our politicians arn’t doing anything about it.
I see it the same. 4th and 5th come to mind. When privacy and a free market collide. Where does it stop….race of a driver? Gender? Why just age?
Insurance companies have been using OBDC data collection to determine driver traits for years. Progressive Snapshot doesn’t know the age of the specific driver at time of collection but it does use AI to determine which is the “most likely” driver by patterns, routes and traits.
As much as I can appreciate pursuing the most seasoned drivers for diminishing skills, I’m curious if they lose their license if their “score” falls below a 16 year old who does get a license (but can’t afford a new GM). Or is this less about skill and more about targeted marketing by GM?
Another globalist attempt to control people. This is a nanny state scheme that is also subject to hacking. Putting GM in control of this data is alarming. Who will be watching the Watchers? Subaru has already gone down this path and their collected information is shared without any owner consent. This is a bad idea.
If you think for one second that this has anything with genuine concern for “elder drivers”, I have some swampland in Florida that I’d love to sell you. This is 100% identical to the programs that insurance companies such as Progressive and USAA promote by pushing the device that plugs into your OBD reader in your vehicle. The insurance companies claim that they are giving discounts for good behavior, etc.. but in fact they are continually building cases that can be used to deny you for claims against your insurance. A family member who had the Allstate device swerved off the road to avoid an animal. Because she was going 47 in a 45 zone, Allstate denied her claim. Be vigilant people!
The auto companies have already, and unbeknown to most people, in the early years, included auto information, speed and much more operating data into car computers. Following an accident, law enforcement can get the picture of what or how it happened by reading the computer chip(s). This new proposal, just looking at the diagram, one has to wonder what could possibly go wrong with this setup? This is another back room project of some scientist who created it because he could! This is big brother and will soon be mandated and it won’t be only for elderly! How would they know who is driving?
…. a prime example of how this could easily be abused is by my neighbor who is in his 80’s and lives alone. He has a grandson who visits him for extended periods. The gentleman drives carefully and is not a hazard to anyone including himself. When the grandson takes the car, it leaves home in a cloud a dust (15 mph speed limit) to make it to the stop sign 1 block away! How would the system read this if the gentleman vs the grandson was driving? Think your insurance is high now???? Hmmm? This is corporate overreach and will be sanctioned by the government – if not financed by it and the insurance co’s. (You can tell GM and the rest of them NO at the dealership!)
Sounds like age discrimination to me there are a lot of drivers of different ages that probably shouldn’t be driving including the speeding truck driver that couldn’t stay in his lane in construction zone and took off the drivers side mirror on my motorhome
While I agree that we need to pay attention to our fitness to drive as we age, this is a dangerous idea. The time will soon be here when that data is given to insurance companies. We considered letting our insurance provider monitor our driving to “save money”. After talking with people who had done so, only to find they got dinged for every sudden braking or acceleration, and had their rates go up, we regained our sanity and nixed that idea. You might take a poll asking if people have used the insurance company monitoring system and if they got the promised discount or not. That might be very interesting.
I just spent thousands of dollars having my trusted mechanic go from radiator to tailpipe on my 1996 Lincoln Town Car. Next is my ’96 Miata. No tracking electronics for me.
Sounds like me and my ’97 T-bird and ’75 Suburban. (Dang! That’s a half-century old!😲) I don’t think they even know what tracking electronics, etc., are. Just the basics are just fine with me. Have a good night. 😀 –Diane
Well, interesting to my previous comments is a new development which I read about last nite on Pinterest! (Reliable – sure looks like it!). The USDOT is now rolling out a national standard for age related drivers. There is a scale which shows ages (above 70), reduced license renewal dates, i.e., 3 yrs, 2 yrs, 1 yr. and requirements including eye exams and vision checks and mandatory written test (optional ?), & mandatory driver road tests! The problem is an aging population and increasing speed limits and less patience of younger drivers. I may have to rethink the GM automated system! If it were to replace all the state DOT requirements….. NOT – as it is another government mandate.