Vintage Car by kayugee
Just as important as safety in your home, is safety in your car. The following is part three of a three part series on car safety.
A startling fact by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that older drivers make up nine percent of the population, but nearly 14 percent of all traffic fatalities.
The issue of whether our parents can remain behind the wheel is a sensitive one, as many people equate driving to freedom and independence. However, when your parents begin to experience a decline in either their mental or physical health, it may be time to ask them to hand over their car keys.
The question of whether our parents are unable to drive anymore is a highly personal one, as some individuals may be able to drive well into their 80s, while others may not. In other words, instead of determining your parent’s ability to drive based upon their age, consider their physical and mental status instead.
If your parents are experiencing any of the following problems when driving, it may be time to begin talking to them about their safety (and the safety of others) when behind the wheel:
1. Stopping at a green light or stopping when there is no reason to stop – Many times, older drivers become nervous and scared and tend to apply the brakes when there is no reason to apply them. This can result in rear-end collisions and other problems.
2. Having trouble reading basic traffic signs – Your parents may find that navigating the road becomes more difficult as their vision decreases. There are many eye problems that may result in poor or low vision, including cataracts and macular degeneration.
3. Not maintaining the speed limit – If your parents are having difficulty maintaining the stated speed limit, then they could be unknowingly causing a dangerous situation on the road. They may risk being rear-ended by a faster moving vehicle, or they could be a victim of other drivers’ impatience and rage from not driving fast enough. In short, a slow driver may be just as dangerous as a driver who exceeds the speed limit.
4. Mistaking the gas pedal for the brake pedal and vice versa – There have been many accidents caused by seniors who simply have hit the wrong pedal and caused serious injury and even death to both other motorists and pedestrians. Any confusion behind the wheel is not acceptable.
5. Getting lost in familiar places – Mild dementia may result in a dangerous situation when your parents are behind the wheel, either from confusion about where they are to confusion about what to do behind the wheel. Either way, it can prove incredibly dangerous to experience any type of memory loss on the road.
If you are worried about your parent’s ability to continue driving, encourage them to take a driver’s refresher course (AARP has information about these types of courses). A driver’s refresher course will help your parent feel more confident behind the wheel and may also lower their auto insurance quotes when seeking new insurance. Lower auto insurance rates are a great way to encourage your parents to take a driver’s refresher course and will also help when looking for other insurance companies