More Seniors Are Driving Than Ever Before
More Seniors Are Driving Than Ever Before
We may joke that 35 is the new 21 and declare that life begins at forty but in all seriousness our longerlived population means that people are staying behind the wheel at far more advanced ages then ever before. Drivers over the age of 75 have as a group the highest rate of fatal daytime car accidents. Often this is due to the fact that senior drivers don’t always notice the gradual deterioration of important driving skills like response time and the ability to make snap decisions.
It is important for senior drivers to keep their behindthewheel skills sharp and to be aware of current traffic laws and driving trends. No one wants an accident to be the first sign that there is a problem. As well staying safe on the road is a key to keeping the insurance discount for mature drivers that many companies offer their over55yearold customers.
If you have a senior driver in your family or if you are one here are some things you should be aware of:
What do they drive?
The car a senior driver chooses makes a difference in how well they drive. Senior drivers need to have vehicles that provide greater freedom of movement visibility that is unrestricted and controls that are easy to use.
Items to avoid include seats that don’t adjust heavy doors and poorly designed seatbelts. The latter should be easy to reach and easy to engage. The seats should allow the driver to sit comfortably and see the road dashboard displays and rear and sideview mirrors with no obstructions. Doors should be light enough for someone without a lot of arm strength to pull completely closed even in windy weather.
Get Physical
Because physical impairments poor vision poor hearing etc. may be a detriment to save driving it is crucial that senior drivers see their primary physicians for annual checkups and ask if driving is still safe. Specific questions that may be asked are “Where and when should I not be driving?” and “What can I do to improve my flexibility and strength?”
In addition to general physical condition there are specific ailments common among the elderly that could adversely affect driving. If you or your senior driver suffers from any of the following be sure to confirm with a doctor that it is safe to drive and if your instinct tells you not to get behind the wheel don’t.
Some conditions that have been mentioned on accident claims are:
Diabetes: Senior drivers who are diabetic must be aware of the related complications like vision impairment and low blood sugar that could affect their driving ability. Low blood sugar can cause moments of disorientation and confusion in all diabetics senior citizens or not.
Falling: Seniors who are prone to losing their balance or have had more than one serious fall in the past two years should probably not drive at all or at least should drastically reduce their time behind the wheel.
Neurological Disorders: Senior citizens in the earliest stages of dementia may seem perfectly normal most of the time but they can become easily disoriented or agitated when faced with busy traffic and this is more likely to occur as the disease progresses. As well they may get lost even on familiar streets confuse the pedals of the car or lose valuable response time.
Accident Prevention
In addition to being aware of their own physical condition seniors may want to consider a few additional measures in order to stay safe on the road. Having another person in the car can often be helpful if there are no relatives or friends to run errands on their behalf. Family who can help out should offer rather than waiting to be asked.
As well senior drivers may find that taking a driving class to brush up on their skills may help them feel more confident behind the wheel as well as help reduce their insurance premium a little more. If a general defensive driving class is intimidating there are special classes for senior drivers offered by the DMV in several states and AARP also offers their “55 Alive” driving class in both online and facetoface formats.
The golden years shouldn’t be tarnished by a lack of transportation. By being aware of their own limitations and taking steps to compensate senior drivers can safely stay on the road for many years.
About the writer: You can get discount auto insurance from reputable companies. Here’s how.
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