Five Safe Driving Tips For Seniors To Avoid A New Haven Auto Accident
October 21, 2024It happens to the best of us. As we age we start to find that doing the things that once came naturally and easily are often more difficult and can be a challenge. This includes driving which can get increasingly more dangerous as we age. In fact, getting into a New Haven auto accident the older you get becomes more and more likely. Some might see this is a fact of life, but others consider the options that exist to make sure you are able to continue driving even as you age.
As you age or are witnessing a loved one age, it can be important to have some serious and often difficult conversations. These conversations may range between safely living in their home or how to make the best financial decisions. One of the conversations should be how to stay safe while also maintaining the independence that driving allows you to have. In fact, many seniors in particular believe that once they lose the ability to drive themselves places they have been stripped of their independence entirely. That is why this conversation can be a difficult one to have. However difficult, it is incredibly important to connect with your loved one and discuss the very real changes that are leading to their reduced ability to drive their vehicle safely.
One thing you can do to minimize the difficult challenge of having this conversation with a loved one is to have the conversation early and often. If you bring it up when you believe it is time for the person to give up their driver’s license they may feel like you are stripping away their independence in one fell swoop. However, if you start the conversation when they are a bit younger by saying something like, “I want to make sure you are giving yourself every opportunity to continue driving while maintaining your safety, let’s talk about how you can do that” you are having the conversation from a positive, forward looking perspective instead of a punishment for turning older.
So, as you start to have these conversations with yourself or your loved one there are some things you should be talking about and thinking about. If you consider these as your starting point you will be able to have a productive conversation that will leave everyone feeling better about the prospect of driving at an older age.
#1: Regular check-ups. It is critical for you or your loved one to maintain regular check-ups for their physical health. This should include regular physicals and eye exams as well. Vision changes as well as hearing changes can affect your ability to drive safely and if you are checking in with a medical provider regular you can stay on top of these changes.
#2: Be aware of the medications you are taking. It is no secret that as we age the number of medications we need tends to increase. You should keep an eye on this very closely. If you or a loved one is prescribed a new medication you should understand the side effects and whether or not the medication will cause any difficulties driving.
#3: Skip the night. When you or your loved one starts to see vision difficulties you will start to see them mainly at night. Most people. regardless of age, find it harder to see at night and therefore when your vision starts to diminish you should start to think about limiting or eliminating your time driving at night so you can remain safe.
#4: Limit distractions. Regardless of age you should be limiting your distractions while you’re driving and this becomes especially important with folks as they start to age because distractions that once were brief may become more significant and can lead to more time with your eyes off of the road. It is important that all distractions be eliminated as best as possible to maintain a clear focus on the road in front of you.
#5: Know your limits. This can be a tricky one because it can be hard to identify your own limits. This is where you, as a loved one, might want to step in and have a conversation. If someone who is aging is beginning to show limitations in their abilities to drive it is important that you help them realize these limitations and discuss how to move forward. It is also important that until these conversations are had your loved one stays off the road.
For some, aging can be a difficult proposition. Admitting that you are not able to do the things you once did before as well as you were once able to do them can be hard for many people. However, just because these conversations and decisions are hard, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be done because otherwise you are putting yourself or your loved one at risk of being involved in a New Haven auto accident which could lead to serious injuries and property damage. When comparing a hard conversation to a hard medical decision there is no contest which one you would rather have.
If your loved one is involved in an accident and becomes injured you may need to seek the advice of an experienced attorney. Contact our office and one of our attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.