Ideas For Older Drivers To Stay Safer While Driving

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Ideas For Older Drivers To Stay Safer While
Driving
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I have been driving for over forty years and
believe that I am a very safe driver.
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I have not received a traffic ticket since 1987.
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Yes, on the freeway I drive a few miles over the
speed limit at times, but I maintain a safe
following distance, yield to other drivers and
understand that trying to have it my way when
driving only leads to frustration.
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A lot has changed since I began driving.
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Gas is now more than 3. 00 a gallon.
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When I started driving, gas prices were 1/10th
of that price.
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Vehicle design has changed tremendously.
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And technologically, the change in vehicle
design and functionality has been enormous.
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As drivers get older, they must also work to
change as much as possible, so that driving
remains as safe as possible for them.
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Older Drivers Benefit From Exercise And
Flexibility
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One thing that is good for all of us is to get
regular exercise.
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Studies have shown that older drivers who
exercise and stretch regularly are better able to
rotate their bodies and turn their heads while
driving.
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Checking our blind spots, backing up, making
turns, scanning for traffic, all of these things
are much easier to do if our bodies are fit and
flexible.
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I have been wearing reading glasses now for about
10 years.
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I do not wear glasses when I drive, but being
able to see well while driving is essential.
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Older drivers who need to wear glasses while
driving should schedule appointments with an
optometrist every few years to make sure that
they are wearing glasses for driving that have an
up to date prescription.
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The optometrist can also check for medical
conditions like macular degeneration and
glaucoma, so that these issues, if present, can
be addressed.
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Ongoing Education Helps Older Drivers
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In Texas the state legislature meets every two
years and inevitably passes several new traffic
laws during each session.
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The truth is that most drivers do not know what
most of these new traffic laws are until they get
pulled over and the officer explains that nature
of their offense.
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It would benefit older drivers to take a
defensive driving course or an AARP Driver Safety
Course every few years, so that they can brush up
on old laws and get introduced to new ones.
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By taking a defensive driving course drivers
receive a discount on their auto insurance and no
matter what age you are that is a good thing.
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Regardless of what some people say, the majority
of older drivers are some of the safest drivers
on the road and by following some of these ideas
they can remain that way for many years to come.