Older and wiser - and still as safe?

Senior Times

Are older drivers safe on the road? Inevitably, the ageing process catches up with all of us. It can affect our mobility, our health, and even our driving abilities. While many of us continue to maintain excellent driving skills, some of us might worry that we are not quite as good as once we were.

We all need our cars, especially as we get older, so we can get to work, visit friends, or do the shopping. In fact, our cars are often a lifeline, especially if we live in rural areas or have a lifestyle that doesn't fit well with public transport.

It's well known that young drivers, especially those between 17 and 24, have the highest accident records. They have less experience, and sometimes their enthusiasm overcomes their judgement. Often, older drivers are in a position to pride themselves on the driving experience that they have accumulated over the years, and on their safety record.

For instance, tests by the Transport Research Laboratory in the UK have shown that, on average, drivers aged over 55 take 22 per cent longer to react than drivers under 30. This would add 25ft - two car lengths - to the stopping distance if braking from 113km/h (70mph). And that distance could be the difference between stopping safely and a bad collision.

Count to 10 and stay out of trouble

How ever long we choose to drive, we all want to make sure that we continue to avoid an accident or injury, which can affect quality of life in our retirement years. For when they are involved in accidents, older drivers are more likely to suffer serious and lasting injuries, simply because bones and muscles are less strong than in youth.And we can reduce the risks - and increase our enjoyment of driving - with a little preparation and care.

Below is a 10 point plan put together by the Age Concern and IAM to make driving easier, safer and less tiring:

  1. Cars must undergo an NCT test as they get older, and drivers can choose to do the same thing. An annual check-up with the doctor can reassure you about continuing to drive. Bear in mind, though, that your doctor will not necessarily be the best person to comment on your driving skills.
  2. Eyesight can deteriorate gradually with age. It's very easy for it to become less sharp, without you realising it. A regular check-up is particularly important for older drivers. If you wear spectacles, an optician will also check that they are safe for driving.
  3. If you develop stiffness in your movements, or arthritis, you might feel that it is affecting your ability to make all-round observations and to handle your car's controls. But there are accessories specially designed to help older drivers. Your doctor may also be able to suggest exercises that will help to loosen your joints.
  4. Medicines and pills - prescribed by a doctor, or non-prescription - can have an effect on the concentration of drivers of any age. Do ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible side effects.
  5. Tiredness and stress can affect the ability of drivers to concentrate. Especially when planning longer journeys, it's worth thinking about which route and what time of the day will minimise stress and fatigue. It's also worth giving yourself time to take a 20 minute break from driving every two hours - even if you don't feel tired. Using the break for light refreshments and a little exercise will keep you fresher, too.
  6. Safe driving requires good awareness of potential hazards. Despite experience, we can all make mistakes. As our reactions get slower with age, some of the more typical factors in accidents are misjudging distances and the speed of other traffic, or failing to spot things in time. It's worth adjusting your driving style to allow yourself longer to react, and creating plenty of space around the vehicle. A two-second gap between you and the vehicle in front is a useful rule of thumb. Aim to increase your following distance as well as reducing speed in advance of a hazard.
  7. We rely on our ears as well as our eyes. Hearing can be an important part of safe driving, warning us of potential hazards or an emergency vehicle coming up behind. If the first you know of an ambulance is when it overtakes you, then two possible things have gone wrong; your hearing has left you down, or you have not been checking your mirrors often enough. If in doubt, have your hearing checked. Having 360-degree awareness is reassuring - remember, though, not to pay attention to what's going on behind you to the detriment of what is going on in front.
  8. Many drivers haven't looked at a copy of the Rules of the Road for years. Many may also privately admit that they don't know the meaning of some road signs, or aren't sure about some rules. The Rules of the Road is inexpensive and is readily available from bookshops.
  9. Travelling at the appropriate speed is important for safe driving. Going too fast can alarm other road-users, while going too slowly can cause frustration. For drivers of any age, it's worth making a special effort to check the speed limit signs even on familiar roads - limits can and do change from time to time.
  10. A significant amount of accidents occur at junctions. Judging speed and distance accurately is difficult, particularly so at night. It is therefore essential to give yourself sufficient time to gather all the necessary information before making your decision.

For further information on any aspect of road safety or to apply for the IAM Advanced Driving Test or the Fast Track Training Programme, you can contact Irish Advanced Motorists / IAM Fleet Training - at (056) 777 1778 or visit their websites at www.iam.org.uk/irishadvancedmotorists or www.iam.org.uk/fleetirelandabout.

IAM is Ireland's leading advanced driving organisation which is a not-for-profit organisation and is part of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, which is a UK Road Safety Charity which was established in 1956.

IAM Fleet provides business-to-business risk management solutions to enable organisations to improve their Health & Safety performance, reduce fleet costs and safeguard the welfare of employees who drive as part of their work activity.

Copyright ©2010, Senior Times.