Page 21 - AAA Central Penn – AAA Now! – May/June 2017

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
AAA
TM
Do I Really Have To Stop Driving?
Part of the AAA Driving School’s mission is to assist mature drivers in their quest to navigate increasing physical and even cognitive challenges while remaining safely mobile for a longer period of time.
According to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released in 2015, older adults who have stopped driving are nearly two times more likely to suffer from depression and almost five times as likely to enter a long-term care facility
as those who continue driving, mostly due to the reduction in the size of their social networks and loss of a feeling of independence.
Through education, awareness and some lifestyle changes, however, many older adults can take steps to avoid this and continue driving safely for years
to come.
A great place to start is SeniorDriving.AAA.com. This site contains a wealth of helpful information
for older drivers wishing to stay mobile, including Roadwise Review Online, which is a free, confidential, self-assessment tool that helps measure certain mental and physical abilities necessary for safe driving.
The AAA Driving School also offers Safe Driving Courses for Mature Operators throughout the Central Pennsylvania area. These two-day courses explore risk management, changes in driving laws and signage, vision, physical and cognitive changes associated with the aging process, the effects of prescription and over-the-counter medication
on driving, distracted and drowsy driving, group discussions on crash avoidance, ways to extend your driving career, and much more.
As an added bonus, class participants earn a state-mandated auto insurance premium discount for completing a course. For dates/locations of classes, see page 22 of this publication. If
you can’t make it to one of those classes,
take the online version by visiting our
website at
AAA.com/DrivingSchool.
Older drivers tend to have an increasing number of medical issues as time goes by, and are often surprised to learn how the medications they take to regulate those conditions affect their driving performance. For free, confidential feedback regarding medication side-effects and potential drug interactions that may impair safe driving, go to RoadwiseRX.com.
Assistive accessories can be installed to help improve visibility,
and make it easier to properly operate and interact with your vehicle's controls the way they were designed to be used. Further advice is available
on the Senior Driving website mentioned earlier. You may also wish to work with an occupational therapist who can recommend equipment specific to your needs (e.g., hand controls, pedal extenders, special mirrors, etc.). Be sure to contact your
health insurance provider first to see what kind of coverage you have for this service.
Continued advancement in vehicle technologies can help too. Devices such as Forward Collision Warning, Parking Assist, Adaptive Headlights, Blind Spot Detection, Lane Departure Warning Systems,
and many more can improve safety and prevent accidents. Although several of these options
are still only available in higher-end vehicles, many are becoming more
widely available.
Many of you may already be doing
this naturally, but self-regulating your driving activities to adapt
to your own comfort-level might improve your safety behind the
wheel. If you find that your vision at night, for example, is not as good as it is during the daytime, you may choose to avoid or stop
driving at night. If the pace of the traffic flow on highways is confusing
to you or makes you uncomfortable, try to avoid such roadways whenever possible. Poor weather conditions can
also be a particular challenge for older drivers, and if you notice an increasing discomfort with such situations, avoid driving at those times.
If your doctor or relatives are expressing concerns about your driving, you may wish to consider taking a Senior Driving Assessment through the AAA Driving School. During this 11⁄2-hour, in-car assessment, one of our certified instructors will ride with you to observe your driving skills. This is not a road test, but you will receive a confidential, written report about any safety concerns the instructor may have noted for improvement. Simply contact the school for scheduling.
At some point in our lives, most of us will eventually have to consider retirement from driving. This can be a frightening prospect to many people due to the loss of independence that it represents; however, with thorough advance planning, you can develop alternate methods of remaining mobile and socially connected.
If at all possible, before you give up the keys, explore public transportation opportunities that may be available in your community. Discuss and establish transportation plans with close friends, relatives or fellow church members. It is extremely important to stay active and involved, even if you can no longer drive yourself to your destination.
Rick Ramsey
Manager, Member Services Operations
MAY/JUNE 2017
21
Through education, awareness and some lifestyle changes, however, many older adults can take steps to avoid this and continue driving safely for years
to come.
Now!