Driving can be difficult for anyone, but it is sometimes more difficult for seniors. Many older adults with perfect driving histories often resist family concerns about their safety. Seniors aren’t “terrible drivers,” but aging factors can impact their driving.
Seniors 65 and older are more likely to cause an accident than those 64 or younger. However, no matter how long a senior has been driving, they can still learn how to operate a vehicle more safely. Here is a list of safety tips by Home Care Danville.
- Schedule a Senior Driver Assessment
According to AARP circumstances, age determines when a senior should consider scheduling a senior driver assessment. For example, an older person needs a driver’s assessment if they experience vision changes or eye disease.
- Reduced joint mobility
- People suggest they should stop driving
- A dementia diagnosis
- Resuming driving after a long hiatus
Since a senior driver assessment is, in part, a medical exam, a general practitioner or occupational therapist can perform the evaluation. As a result of their assessment, a senior can gather ideas for driving more safely.
- Exercise Regularly
Maintaining physical fitness is intrinsically linked to safe driving for seniors. Regular workouts ensure joints move freely and enhance reaction time while driving. Fitness contributes to a broader range of motion in the neck, promoting increased awareness on the road. Engaging in sit-to-stand exercises strengthens muscles and facilitates easier entry and exit from a vehicle. The positive effects of physical activity extend beyond overall health, directly impacting seniors’ ability to navigate the challenges of driving, making it an integral component of their efforts to stay safe on the road.
- Get Routine Hearing And Eye Exams
Older drivers should never assume that their vision and hearing are good enough. Regular eye and hearing exams detect existing eye and ear concerns. Impending vision and hearing issues can be diagnosed and corrected before they become more serious.
A senior ophthalmologist and otolaryngologist will determine how frequently eye and hearing exams are necessary. Part of the importance of these check-ups is to reveal any restrictions a senior needs to place on their driving.
- Understand Medication Side Effects
Seniors must be vigilant about medication side effects impacting their driving capabilities. It’s crucial to familiarize themselves with the potential consequences of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. For instance, substances like antihistamines and opioids may induce drowsiness, posing risks on the road.
Caution is paramount, emphasizing that individuals should refrain from driving after taking medications that cause sleepiness or dizziness. Prioritizing awareness of these effects ensures responsible and safe driving practices among seniors, minimizing potential hazards associated with using medications that can compromise their ability to operate a vehicle safely.
- Compensate For Driving Challenges
Seniors can modify their cars to compensate for limitations that make driving more challenging. For example, pedal extenders make the brake and accelerator easier to reach. In addition, panoramic external rearview mirrors enlarge a driver’s field of vision.
Automotive hand controls benefit operators who can’t use foot pedals. A senior should check with their home state’s DMV regarding regulations for installing and using driving aids.
- Take a Senior Driver Refresher Course
Older drivers looking for a driving refresher course can start with local agencies that serve the needs of seniors and continuing education programs. In addition, an online Smart Driver Course is available through AARP.
Since reviewing the road rules is part of the curriculum, participation in an older driver skills review program decreases the likelihood of committing a moving violation or getting into an accident. Seniors who complete a driving refresher class may be entitled to discounted auto insurance.
Bottom Line
In summary, senior safe driving is crucial to maintaining road safety for older individuals. While age-related factors can impact driving, proactive measures can enhance senior driver safety. Scheduling a senior driver assessment based on circumstances, regular exercise to improve physical fitness, routine hearing, and eye exams, understanding medication side effects, and compensating for driving challenges through modifications are key practices. A senior driver refresher course also proves beneficial, reducing the risk of violations or accidents and potentially qualifying seniors for discounted auto insurance. These measures collectively contribute to keeping older loved ones safe behind the wheel. Contact In-Home Care Danville for extra safety suggestions, as they have much experience with caregiving.