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Aging gracefully, Driving
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Aging Gracefully While Driving
Safely
Courtesy of
the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia
Driving is a key to independence from the moment we
get our first license. Most of us want to hold on to
that key for as long as we safely can.
Most
aging drivers are capable and have a lifetime of
valuable driving experience. For these reasons,
decisions about a person’s ability to drive should
never be based on age alone. However, changes in
vision, physical fitness and reflexes may cause
safety concerns. People who accurately assess these
changes can adjust their driving habits so that they
stay safe on the road, or choose other kinds of
transportation.
How
do you assess whether physical changes are affecting
your driving skills?
How is your vision?
Good
vision is essential for good driving health. But, as
people age, everyone experiences declines in vision.
Do you have these symptoms of declining vision?
-
You have problems reading highway or street
signs or recognizing someone you know across the
street.
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You have trouble seeing lane lines and other
pavement markings, curbs, medians, other
vehicles and pedestrians, especially at dawn,
dusk and at night.
-
You experience more discomfort at night from the
glare of oncoming headlights.
Make sure you always wear your glasses and that they
are a current prescription. If you lose or break
your glasses, don’t rely on an old pair; replace
them right away with your newest prescription. Avoid
eyewear with side pieces that may block your vision.
Do not wear sunglasses or tinted lenses at night.
This reduces the amount of light that reaches your
eyes and makes driving much more hazardous.
Don’t darken or tint your car windows.
Avoid driving at dawn, dusk and night. If you
are extremely light-sensitive, check with your eye
doctor to see if it can be corrected.
Keep your windshield, mirrors and headlights
clean, and make sure your headlight aim is checked
when your car is inspected.
Choose a car with larger dials and easy-to-read
symbols. Turn brightness up on the instrument panel.
Sit high enough in your seat so that you can see
the road for at least 10 feet in front of your car.
This will make a big difference in reducing the
amount of glare you experience from opposing
headlights at night. Also, look to the lower right
side of the road when there is oncoming traffic.
Some vehicles have rearview mirrors that
automatically filter out glare; you might find this
feature beneficial, especially for night time
driving.
If you are 60 or older, see an eye doctor every
year to check for cataracts, glaucoma, macular
degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other
conditions associated with aging.
How is your physical
strength?
Diminished strength, coordination and flexibility
can have a major impact on your ability to safely
control your car.
Do
you have these symptoms of decreased physical
fitness?
-
You have trouble looking over your shoulder to
change lanes or looking left and right to check
traffic at intersections.
-
You have trouble moving your foot from the gas
to the brake pedal or turning the steering
wheel.
-
You have fallen down - not counting a trip or
stumble - once or more in the previous year.
-
You walk less than one block per day.
-
You can’t raise your arms above your shoulders.
-
You feel pain in your knees, legs or ankles when
going up or down a flight of stairs.
With
your doctor’s approval, do some stretching
exercises and start a walking program. Walk
around the block or in a mall. Also, check
recreational facilities, health clubs, senior
centers, and hospitals for fitness programs geared
to your age group.
Get examined by a doctor if you have pain or
swelling in your feet. If you have pain or stiffness
in your arms, legs or neck, your doctor may
prescribe medication and/or physical therapy.
Eliminate your driver’s side blind spot by
adjusting your side mirror. If you use a wide-angle
mirror, get lots of practice judging distances to
other cars before using it in traffic.
Choose a car with automatic transmission, power
steering and power brakes.
Sit at least ten inches from the steering wheel
to reduce the chances of an injury from your air
bag. Remember to always wear your seat belt.
How is your Attention
and Reaction Time?
Be
aware of your physical limitations and how they may
affect your driving.
Driving requires dividing your attention between
multiple activities and being able to react quickly
to situations that often arise without warning.
Do
you have these symptoms of decreased attention and
reaction time?
-
You feel overwhelmed by all of the signs,
signals, road markings, pedestrians and vehicles
that you must pay attention to at intersections.
-
Gaps in traffic are harder to judge, making it
more difficult to turn left at intersections or
to merge with traffic when turning right.
-
You take medications that make you sleepy.
-
You often get lost or become confused.
-
You experience dizziness, seizures or loss of
consciousness.
-
You aren’t confident that you can handle the
demands of high speeds or heavy traffic.
-
You are slow to see cars coming out of driveways
and side streets or to realize that another car
has slowed or stopped ahead of you.
Keep alert to sounds outside your car. Limit
passenger conversation and background noises from
the radio and stereo. If you wear a hearing aid, be
careful opening car windows, as some people find
drafts can impair the aid’s effectiveness.
Watch for flashing lights of emergency vehicles.
You may not be able to hear the siren at a distance.
Plan your route. Drive where you are familiar
with the road conditions and traffic patterns.
Keep a safe distance between you and the car
ahead.
Find a marker ahead of you, such as a tree, sign
or lamp post. When the car ahead of you passes this
marker, count, “1001, 1002, 1003, 1004.” Try to
leave enough space so that you reach 1004 before you
get to the same point.
Drive during the day and avoid rush hours. Find
alternative routes with less traffic.
Try to make left turns at intersections where green
arrow signals provide protected turns. Sometimes
you can completely avoid left turns by making a
right turn at the next intersection. Two more right
turns should put you on the street you need.
When approaching intersections, remind yourself
to look to the sides of the roads, as well as
directly ahead.
Scan far down the road continuously so that you
can anticipate future problems and plan your
actions. A passenger can serve as a “second pair of
eyes.” But don’t get distracted in conversation!
Keep alert to Changes
Everyone wants to maintain their ability to go where
they want, when they want, especially as they grow
older and enjoy more leisure time.
Has
this happened to you?
-
A friend or family member has expressed concern
about your driving.
-
You sometimes get lost while driving on routes
that were once familiar.
-
You have been pulled over by a police officer
and warned about your poor driving behavior,
even if you didn’t get a ticket.
-
You have had several moving violations, near
misses or actual crashes in the last three
years.
-
Your doctor or other health caregiver has
advised you to restrict or stop driving.
Listen to what people tell you who know you best
and care about you most.
Discuss driving with your doctor — he or she can
evaluate the interactions and side effects of all
the medications you may be taking.
Refresh your knowledge of safe driving practices
and learn about new traffic control and roadway
design features through a mature driver class.
Depending on where you live, there are often many
ways of getting around town without having to use
your own car.
Alternative
Transportation - It could work for you
Begin planning for alternative ways of meeting your
transportation needs. Learn about transportation
options in your community, then try them out to see
which options work best for you.
Have you considered the options?
Even
if you just want to drive less, there may be more
options available to you for getting around than
just your family or friends.
You
may be surprised to find that any one of them is
easier than driving and parking your car. When
tabulating the cost of using another kind of
transportation, don’t forget to factor in the money
you will save in decreased or eliminated costs of
owning, maintaining, insuring and parking your car.
Look
at the cost of the service and the level of
convenience you need for each trip you take — you
might end up using all of the services at different
times.
Learn what is available in your community.
Potential services include:
-
City buses
-
Taxi cabs and personalized driver services
-
Shuttle buses, such as those offered by
churches, senior centres and retirement
communities.
If
public transportation service is available in your
area, ask a friend to help you. Going with someone
who knows how to ride the bus may make you feel more
secure.
Ask
questions about the services and schedules of each
type of transportation available to you, including
whether they offer evening or weekend rides.
Self Awareness - The
key to Safe Driving
While everyone wants to keep driving for as long as
possible, no one wants to be a threat to themselves
or to others because they are no longer able to
drive safely.
While most older people take appropriate steps when
they detect a problem with their driving, it’s not
always obvious when a general health problem, vision
problem, or a side effect of medications will lead
to a driving impairment. That’s when the
observations of loved ones and health professionals
are most vital.
Self-awareness is the key. People who can accurately
assess their fitness to drive can adjust their
driving habits, and stay safe on the road. With
smart self management, you can retain the personal
mobility that comes with driving, while limiting the
risks to yourself and others.
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Courtesy ICBC. All rights reserved. |
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