Senior Blog » Senior Guide http://www.seniorscentral.info/blog Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:19:57 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Driver Safety Guide for Older Adults http://www.seniorscentral.info/blog/driver-safety-guide-for-older-adults/ http://www.seniorscentral.info/blog/driver-safety-guide-for-older-adults/#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:37:51 +0000 Andy Johnson http://www.seniorscentral.info/blog/?p=45 Drivers over the age of 65 years most often travel alone in their own vehicles or with two or more occupants. For most older drivers, the ability to get places independently is a precious privilege that is not given up easily. However, at some point, safety issues become more important. The crash rate for older drivers is related to physical and mental changes associated with aging, such as impaired vision, hearing loss, as well as, impaired mobility and neurological function. Medical conditions and medications also play a significant role in determining safety of older drivers.

Driving Tips

Older drivers should avoid night driving, rush-hour driving, freeway driving or driving in dangerous conditions such as snow or rain storms. Planning a driving route ahead of any lengthy road trip is helpful.

If the older driver’s skills behind the wheel cannot be improved to a reasonable degree of safety, other alternatives to driving should be sought. Use of public and private transportation services, ride sharing, senior citizen shuttles, volunteer services, friends, family and neighbors are the most common options.

Another alternative is to limit the need for driving through home delivery whenever possible. Older drivers should remember that losing a small degree of independence does not compare to serious injury or death of oneself or any passenger.

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