Driving Tips For Seniors

Next to teenagers, the group with the most auto accidents per mile is drivers over 65. Older people account for approximately 12% of all traffic deaths and about 16% of all pedestrian fatalities.  The higher rate of auto accidents involving seniors is due to normal effects of aging, including changes in vision and reaction time. Fortunately, there are easy ways older drivers can reduce the risk of being in an auto accident. Here are tips.

Have your eyes checked annually

Many seniors fail to realize their vision is not as good as it used to be. Worsening eyesight can impact your driving in many ways, including making it harder to see road signs and oncoming traffic, bright sunlight or headlights can impede your vision, and your eyes can get tired faster making it harder to concentrate and judge distances and speed.

To improve driving safety, have an annual eye exam and more often if your eyesight is changing quickly.  This will reveal any worsening of your eyesight.  Also, if you cannot see well or are bothered by bright lights from other cars, limit yourself to daytime driving.  You should also consider installing a larger rearview mirror to increase your field of vision.  And if you wear glasses, make sure they are the ones that restrict your vision the least and that your prescription is current.

Limit driving in bad weather

Replace windshield wiper blades when they start streaking the windshield. This is important to maintain clear vision in bad weather. Also make sure your headlights are clean and aimed properly. Properly aimed headlights help you see better at night and help keep glare from other driver’s eyes.

Wear your seat belt

Every person in a car should wear a seat belt. This is important at all ages, but is especially important for seniors. Our bodies become more fragile with age, so we are more likely to be hurt in a crash. Seat belts reduce injuries.

Make sure your cognitive functions are good

Some diseases can affect a person's cognitive functions -- the ability to use your perception, intuition, judgment and reasoning to drive safely.  Many cognitive impairments are progressive -- if diagnosed and treated early, you should be able to drive longer.  But if the condition is moderate or severe, it may be too dangerous for you to drive.  Consult your doctor to find out if it's still safe for you to drive.

Medications

Many seniors (and non-seniors) take prescription and over the counter medications to treat or control medical conditions.  Some medications or a combination of medications can affect your ability to drive safely, as reactions can include fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision and other problems.  To help avoid driving problems when taking medications, talk to your doctor and pharmacist.  Ask if there are any side effects that may impair your driving.  It is also wise to keep a written record of how the medications affect your driving.

Don’t sit too close to air bags

If you are riding in a car with air bags, sit as far from the air bag as possible. Air bags inflate very rapidly, and this can cause injuries. Always wear your seat belt even in cars with air bags.

Consider taking a refresher training or driver improvement class

This can help make sure that your driving skills are still good.  In addition, this will also entitle you to an insurance discount in many states.

For children of older drivers

Talking with an aging parent about his or her driving can be hard.  To help make this conversation easier and less tense, first obtain information about the senior's driving and other behaviors and actions.  Does the senior stop at all stop signs and red lights?  Does he or she respond properly to other vehicles, pedestrians, motorcyclists and road hazards?  Are merges and lane changes safely made?  Is the person driving too fast or too slowly?

Once you have all this information, discuss with the senior whether there's a problem and if so, if it can be fixed or other means of transportation are needed.  To help make sure the conversation goes well, base your recommendations on the observations already made.  And of course, be sensitive to ways you can help the senior maintain self respect.

These are just a few ways seniors — as well as other drivers — can improve driving safety. Following them can help reduce the risk of being in an accident and also help lessen your injuries if you are in one.

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