Safe Driving Past 60 - Drive Safely!
The belief that senior citizens are poor drivers is widespread, and for good reason. Studies show that people over the age of 60 are more likely to make mistakes while driving than their younger counterparts. This could be due to the fact that, as we age, our ability to see moving objects deteriorates faster than our ability to see stationary objects. So while you may not have trouble walking around the house, operating a moving vehicle that is moving faster than 20 miles per hour can be somewhat challenging past the age of 60. Whether your driving problems are being caused by age-related vision disorders or serious eye disease, there are some things you can do to ensure safer driving after 60:
Have Your Eyes Examined Regularly
If your vision is deteriorating to the point where you're becoming a hazard on the road, it is essential that you receive proper diagnosis and treatment before stepping back into the driver's seat of a vehicle. Age-related macular degeneration and other optical disorders can manifest themselves suddenly with severe symptoms. By having regular exams you can avoid unexpected handicaps and seek the treatment necessary to get back on the road again. It might help you to take regular vision tests online.
Be Honest with Yourself about Your Driving Ability
The first step in improving your safe driving habits is acknowledging the fact that you may not be as good a driver as you once were. If you've been noticing more people honking/yelling at you in traffic, blinking their brights at you, friends and relatives expressing concerns about your driving, or a recent increase in traffic tickets, it may be time to accept the fact that your age is affecting your driving. Once you're no longer in denial about your driving abilities, you can begin taking the necessary precautions:
Stick to Familiar Roads
One of the main aspects of driving that is so dangerous for seniors is the unpredictability with which objects and road changes can appear. As we age, not only is our vision affected, our reaction time and ability to perform well under pressure are also significantly hindered. Try to drive on roads you're familiar with, and avoid those that have tough terrain, sharp turns, and low lighting.
Optimize Your Field of Vision
Individuals with age-related macular degeneration often complain of blurry spots in their field of vision. Having a dirty windshield or cloudy eyeglasses can compound this issue by actually blocking your already impaired vision with even more blurry spots. Try to avoid driving in rainy weather or other low visibility conditions, and ensure that your windshield wipers are in the off position when they are not needed. When driving at night, it's best to avoid looking in the direction of oncoming headlights, as this can cause your pupils to contract and become less adept to seeing in the dark.
Keep Your Distance
With delayed reaction times and hindered vision, senior citizens are advised to keep at least two car lengths distance between them and the next driver. It's also important to consider the amount of coverage your headlights provide, and to stay at a reasonable speed so that you're not driving faster than your eyes are able to process objects as they become illuminated by your headlights.
Never Use Electronic Devices While Driving
Although it is not good for anyone of any age to talk or text on a cell phone while driving, due to their delayed reaction times senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of "distracted driving.” Even "hands-free" devices require some form of input, and can cause a distraction even if you're not looking at or touching the device. Unless you have a passenger with you to answer the phone or help you use your digital GPS, it would be best to never use these electronic devices while driving.
Be Careful at Intersections
Studies have shown that approximately 40% of fatal car accidents involving senior drivers took place at intersections, with the most common cause of accidents being failure to yield (particularly during left turns). Because of the increased vehicular activity seen at intersections, seniors are more susceptible to their frequent dangers.
Drive Slower
While you may be tempted to do away with the negative stigma of old people and slow driving, it's better to be safe than sorry. If you're not feeling comfortable with your driving skills, you'd be better off getting a ticket for driving too slow, than getting in an accident for driving too fast!
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