The week of December 6th to December 10th was designated as Older Driver Safety Awareness Week by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Driver safety awareness is something that everyone needs to keep in mind as they grow older. Unfortunately, everyone will begin to undergo physical, mental, and sensory changes that can make driving safely a challenge.
Older Driver Safety Self Test
As an older driver, it’s vital that you be aware of your driving behavior and any issues that you might be having. Many older drivers will ignore such issues, especially if they appear to be minor, because they don’t want to face the truth that it might be affecting their ability to drive. Such issues can include:
Difficulty making out signage
Trouble accelerating and braking
Getting lost while driving
Feeling drowsy or dizzy
Feeling nervous while in traffic
Difficulty looking over your shoulder
If you have any of these issues, you should speak with your doctor in Southern California. They can help diagnose the problem and find a solution. In some cases, the issue may be caused by a medication you’re taking, which means your doctor can switch you to something that doesn’t cause those side effects.
The CarFit Program
CarFit is a driver safety program that helps determine if your car is a proper fit for your needs. Most older drivers will drive more carefully; however, if they get into an accident, they are more likely to be injured than younger drivers. The CarFit program involves a thorough 20-minute check of your vehicle to determine how well it fits your needs in terms of safety and comfort.
It suggests adjustments and safety additions to the vehicle so that it will be safer for the driver to use. For instance, CarFit may recommend using extenders or hand controls if you’re having trouble reaching or using the car’s pedals.
Older driver safety awareness will continue to be important for every driver as they grow older. For more driver safety tips, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.
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