Older Drivers Safety Awareness Week - Safety Tips for Seniors

Older Driver Safety Awareness Week is December 5th-9th and focuses on driving safety, driving fitness, and driving alternatives for drivers over the age of 65.

Older Driver Safety Awareness Week aims to help seniors stay active in their communities through mobility and transportation opportunities regardless of driving capability.
 
As we age, we go through many biological changes including vision impairment, hearing loss, and cognitive abilities; each of these drastically impact one’s ability to drive. 

​One in six drivers are over the age of 65. Consistent check-ups in all of these areas should be maintained in order to stay safe on the road and contribute to road safety for not only the driver, but for everyone on the road.

​Driving fitness evaluations are key to knowing whether or not you or your loved one can continue driving safely. Driving fitness evaluation tests cognitive and emotional functions along with the physical ability to drive.

​Older drivers should have their hearing and vision checked regularly. Glasses and hearing aids can prolong driving independence by ensuring you can properly see and hear the environment around you.

Certain medications have an effect on concentration, vision, drowsiness, and dizziness; greatly reducing the ability to drive safely.

​Four out of five older adults are on medications that impair their driving ability. Knowing the side effects of your medication means being knowledgeable of your driving ability while on it. If the side effects are severe enough and you wish to continue driving, talk to your doctor about switching medications. 

We’ve gathered some additional tips for older drivers:

Prep before you go

​Set up your phone, radio or music, and navigation before you begin driving to limit any additional distractions or make sure they’re turned off if you have trouble hearing.

​Try to avoid changing songs or radio stations while driving as well as resetting your navigation. Pull over to make any changes to your GPS and be sure to stay off your phone while driving. You can also turn on the Do Not Disturb setting.

​Invest in technology that helps you

Think about investing in a newer car. Newer cars have a lot of technology to aid in driver safety and awareness such as emergency braking, lane assist, and blind spot awareness.

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Make a transportation plan

Like a retirement plan, creating a transportation plan can ease the adjustment to switching transportation methods. Acknowledge what point of impairment makes for unsafe driving and compare that to where you are now. Make a plan as to how to get to appointments and other engagements. ​Also, get to know your own neighborhood, there may be areas that you haven't explored before within walking distance. 

Look into alternative options

​If you are nearing or have reached the point where it's no longer safe for you to be on the road as a driver, that’s ok. There are plenty of options to maintain your independence with travel. If you have a loved one or family member who is willing, ask them to drive you where you need to be. Utilizing public transportation and rideshares are great opportunities as well. 

Celebrating a life rich in culture and experiences is what we are all about at Melody Living Colorado Springs. Step out-on-the-town and enjoy senior living transportation to local entertainment and cultural venues, new dining and shopping venues, doctor appointments, area worship services, and plenty of outdoor recreation experiences.
 
Gone are the days where you need to upkeep your car or schedule pickups from friends and family, Melody Living’s accessible transportation services are an excellent resource for residents to enjoy whether they need to visit ​their primary care physician, are catching a movie or dinner downtown, or are simply looking to get out and about – our scheduled services are the perfect way to enjoy life on the town.

Visit our contact page to learn more about Melody Living’s transportation services and our community as a whole. Give us a call at 719.900.1540 to get additional information about our independent living options and to learn more about our assisted living and memory care community, give us a call at 719.960.4005.