Senior Driver: Driving Safety Cycle
How Aging Affects Driving Safety
Reduced vision especially at night. | ||
Difficulty judging distance and speed. | ||
Limited movement and range of motion. | ||
Slower reaction time. | ||
Difficulty focusing attention for long periods of time. | ||
Easily distracted. | ||
More time needed to understand what we see and hear. | ||
More use of prescription and/or over-the-counter drugs that may impair your driving ability. |
The Driving Safety Cycle
PLAN: Before you begin driving, plan your route, make sure your car is properly prepared and make alternate transportation arrangements when appropriate.
SCAN: Pay close attention to what is happening all around you. Look and listen for situations that may require you to react quickly.
THINK: Consider how safety will be affected by what you have seen or heard.
DECIDE: Decide how to handle the situation so you feel in control.
ACT: Apply good judgement to eliminate unsafe acts and unsafe conditions.
Deciding When to Stop Driving: Warning Signs
1. | Increasing number of near collisions. | |
2. | Direct involvement in minor collisions. | |
3. | Difficulty seeing pedestrians, objects and other vehicles. | |
4. | Difficulty co-ordinating hand and foot movements. | |
5. | Increased nervousness when behind the wheel. |
Transportation Alternatives
Public transportation. | ||
Friends and family members who drive. | ||
Keep your vehicle and have others drive for you e.g. volunteer driver programs. | ||
Scheduled or customer call request van/bus pick-up. | ||
Taxi voucher system. | ||
Community access bus or van pools. |
Personal Reminders
1. | What age-related factors affect your driving? |
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2. | What changes will you make to keep driving safely? |
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3. | How will these changes benefit you? |
Road Safety. It starts with you.
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