Senior Driving Tips
6. Adjust Your Schedule, Choose The Road Less Traveled
- Research shows that 90 percent of older drivers who fail reaction tests at high speeds perform satisfactorily at speeds 10 mph slower. Keep to the speed limit.
- Drive familiar roads to reduce the chance of getting lost.
- Avoid rush-hour traffic to enjoy a less stressful drive.
7. Use The Mirrors
- Three mirrors should be present on the vehicle: one mirror on each side of the car and one large rearview mirror.
- Additional mirrors won't eliminate blind spots - only relocate them.
- Mirrors cannot replace a look over the shoulder prior to a lane change, so keeping the neck flexible through exercise is important.
8. Get Your Eyes Checked At Least Every Two Years
We drive with our eyes more than any other sense. Vision provides as much as 85 percent of the information we need to make safe decisions behind the wheel. Consider the following:
- The amount of light needed to drive roughly doubles every 13 years. The ability to change focus declines with age. Younger drivers need only about two seconds to adjust their focus from near to far, such as when looking from the speedometer to the road ahead. Drivers over 40 take three seconds or more, with more time needed as they age. Compared to a 16-year-old, a 55-year-old takes eight times longer to recover from glare.
- Colors become harder to see, especially red. Some older drivers take twice as long to distinguish the flash of brake lights as young drivers.
- Peripheral vision narrows with age and depth perception declines. Depth perception affects the ability to judge how fast other cars are moving.
9. Backing Up
- One third of all crashes are due to one or more vehicles backing up.
- Wait until your vehicle comes to a complete stop before turning back around to face the front of the vehicle. Keep in mind your vehicle will continue to roll when you take your foot off the accelerator.
10. Medications
- Medications can interfere with driving by making the driver drowsy or distracted. This includes many over-the-counter medications such as decongestants or cold remedies. Read the fine print. If a medication is labeled "Do not use while operating heavy machinery," let someone else drive.
- Inform your doctor about what nonprescription medications you are taking. This includes alcohol, which can interact with some drugs to cause serious side effects.
- Avoid driving when you first start taking a new medication. Side effects such as drowsiness are often worse for the first few days but lessen as the body adjusts to the drug.
For additional information regarding senior driving, please contact the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education
Safety Services Manager in your area.