Driver performance
If you think years on the road make you a pro, you need to give this a second thought. Age, level of distraction and lax habits are all factors in performance behind the wheel. Distractions faced while driving are a hazard for everyone, not just seniors, and not just in the form of phones and high tech gadgets. Driving while sleepy, wandering minds en route, combing hair or applying makeup using the rearview mirror or attending to the needs of passengers are additional distractions.
Certainly experience teaches us how to handle our cars, but this is not always enough to counteract the effects of aging. Eye problems, including difficulty with night vision, are often the first problem that needs to be recognized. Strength, flexibility and reflexes also diminish with age, so if poor eyesight results in an error, mistakes may be compounded by slower reaction time.
It is not necessarily thought that seniors are risky drivers, but rather are more vulnerable to driving mishaps that occur in complex traffic situations that require a deft combination of cognitive skills and hand-eye coordination, such as making a left turn at a busy intersection.
Fortunately, most responsible seniors compensate for deteriorating driving skills with regular medical checkups and by self-regulating - limiting driving to daytime hours and on familiar roads and avoiding left turns. It is also a good idea to check with your doctor to be sure it's safe to drive under the influence of prescriptions or medications.
Think about benefits from a refresher course in road safety or a defensive driving class, many of which may also qualify you for a discount in your insurance premium.
