Did you know that there are over 1.7 million licensed drivers in California who are aged 70 and older? Americans as a whole are healthier now, and living longer more active lives well into their 80s, 90s, and beyond.
Because of their extensive experience and self-monitoring, older drivers pose the least risk to others on the road; their accident rate per driver does not begin to equal what might be expected for the size of their population until after the age of 85.
The per-driver accident rate is lower than average for older drivers because they tend to drive less often, and compensate for age-related declines in their skills. Unfortunately, the rates for older drivers start to approach those of teenagers when accidents are divided by miles driven. Because an older body is more fragile, the physical damage suffered in an accident is not only greater, but is also three times more likely to be fatal.
Common Restrictions for Senior Drivers
The number one restriction for senior drivers is vision-related and usually requires the driver to wear glasses or corrective contact lenses. Other common restrictions include, but are not limited to:
• No freeway driving.
• Driving a vehicle with an additional right side mirror.
• Driving from sunrise to sunset (no night driving).
• Time of day restriction (for example, not during rush hour traffic).
• Area restriction (for example, to your physician, church, grocery store).
Important tips:
Your Health Your health is closely connected to your driving. You must be able to see well enough to detect hazards in different types of lighting, judge distances, adjust to the speed of traffic, and read road signs. Your brain must be alert enough to quickly decide the correct course of action in any type of traffic situation, including unexpected ones. Your body must also be able to respond and react quickly.
Nutrition Proper nutrition helps us maintain our health and provides us with the energy needed for daily activities and safe driving.
Physical and Mental Fitness Maturity brings with it a change in our physical mobility.
Safe Driving Tips
• Have your eyes checked every two years or more often if you notice a rapid change in your vision. You may not know that you have poor peripheral vision or poor distance judgment unless you have your vision checked.
• Keep your eye glasses, vehicle windows, mirrors, and headlights clean.
• Limit yourself to daytime driving if you are having trouble seeing at night or your eyes have trouble recovering from the glare of oncoming headlights.
• Turn your head frequently to compensate for any decreased peripheral vision.
• Avoid wearing eyeglasses and sunglasses with wide frames or temples that may restrict your side vision. If you have trouble seeing over the steering wheel, sit on a cushion or pillow, but make sure you can still reach the gas and brake pedals.
