posted by on Oct 5
Senior citizens are usually safe and conscientious drivers. For some seniors, however, the physical changes that come with the aging process, interfere with good driving habits.
Tips for Seniors for Safe Driving * Drive a motor vehicle that has an automatic transmission, power steering and brakes for ease of handling
* Keep your automobile in peak running condition with clean windows and headlights
* Drive during daylight hours
* Stay off highways if the fast pace makes you anxious
* Avoid driving in bad weather
* Do not tailgate
* Be extra careful when making left turns
* Enroll in a safety driving course for drivers over 50
* Maintain good physical and mental health
Elderly drivers receive more citations for failure to yield, improper turns and running red lights and stop signs. These behaviors are all indications of decreased driving ability. Someone 65 or older involved in a motor vehicle accident is more likely to be seriously injured and require hospitalization and more likely to die. Fatal crash rates are extremely high for those 70 and over.
Risk Factors that Affect Driving Ability * Vision decline
* Hearing loss
* Limited mobility
* Medication side effects
* Drowsiness from lack of sleep and medications
* Dementia
If someone near and dear to you is having a difficult time driving, watch for warning signs and decide if it is time to reassess the senior’s ability to drive safely for everyone’s safety.