Safety Tips For Older Drivers

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Safety Tips For Older Drivers
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I got my driver's license in the early seventies,
which means that I have been driving for over
forty years.
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Today I need glasses to read, but not to drive.
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During the day I simply wear sunglasses and
make sure that my windshield is relatively clean.
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Thankfully, my night vision is good also.
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But this is not true for all drivers my age.
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There are many drivers my age whose vision has
become a problem for them while driving.
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Some must wear corrective lenses while driving
and others have difficulty seeing well at night.
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Needless to say, without taking the proper
steps to address these issues, these older
drivers can be a safety hazard to not only
themselves, but to other drivers on the roadway
as well.
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NTSA Safety Tips For Older Drivers
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The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration is dedicated to the safety of all
drivers on the road and offers the following
suggestions for older drivers to help to make
their travels as safe as possible
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The first suggestion is common sense and that is
to make sure to have your eyes checked with
enough regularity that if you need a change in
the lense of your glasses that it is done as
needed.
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Next, now that your prescription is up to date,
make sure that you are indeed wearing your
glasses or contacts as you drive.
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As a side note, when you choose the frames for
the glasses that you are going to be wearing as
you drive, make sure that the frame itself does
not become a hindrance to your being able to see
the driving environment around you.
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A thick frame can create a significant blind
spot that could cause you to be unable to see
other vehicles and pedestrians around you.
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Another danger of aging and driving is a change
in posture that can affect your ability to see
the driving environment around you.
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If need be, adjust your seat higher, or
possibly place a cushion on your seat so that you
are sitting up high enough to clearly see the
roadway ahead of you.
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If you do have a night vision problem, you may
want to consider whether it is in your best
interest to have your side windows tinted as this
could make it even more difficult for you to
safely see through these windows after dark.
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As I mentioned previously, I make it a point to
at least keep my windshield relatively clean.
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Doing this for all your windows is important.
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The same goes for your headlights.
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The simple solution here is to simply take you
car to the car wash and get everything cleaned at
once.
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I prefer the full service car washes that clean
the interior of my car at the same time.
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Most Older Drivers Are Safe Drivers
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In conclusion, I, as many drivers my age,
consider myself to be a very safe driver.
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However, having said that, older drivers need
to be honest with themselves and make adjustments
or take whatever precautions are reasonable so
that they can remain safe while behind the wheel.