Safe driving is something that we discuss frequently at Carwise. Even though we try to connect everyone with a quality body shop when they need one, we also want everyone to be aware of driving safety issues. More often than not, senior drivers are overlooked when discussing driver safety.
As we get older, eyesight, hearing, and mobility tend to change. Since driving relies heavily on our ability to see and hear, it’s important to keep on top of any vision or hearing changes. Maintaining you or your loved one’s health should also include monitoring basic reflexes, in the event of a hazardous situation which requires quick response times. Finally, make sure to drive a car that’s easy for you or your loved one to get in and out of, as well as drive.
It also never hurts to take a refresher driving course at any age. State laws do change, and you could potentially get a discount on insurance premiums. There are various courses and self-assessment tools available online as well.
Finally, new car technologies which include connected cars and collision avoidance systems can also help seniors while driving. Look out for these features like adaptive headlights or lane departure prevention if you’re in the market for a new vehicle.
The AAA and AARP provide great resources if you’re a senior who is driving, or if you’re concerned about a senior’s driving skills. Overall, our goal is to help seniors maintain and improve their driving abilities while keeping the roads safe for everyone.
Schools are back in session, and winter is quickly approaching so it’s a good time to review some safety tips when driving with children in the back seat, on the streets, or both. During this time of kids on the street and low visibility, there are many extra precautions we should take as it pertains to children both in your backseat, or walking on the sidewalks.
As for kids inside your vehicle, the most obvious safety precaution that comes to mind for many are seat belts. But are you sure your child passenger is using the safest car seat for his/her body weight, age, etc.? Many car seats are not used or installed correctly. We recommend checking online for instruction guides on what your child requires. This goes for other children that may be riding in your car, every child should bring their car seat with them when riding in other cars. According to NHTSA, “a child in a correctly used safety seat in the back seat of a car is 73% less likely to be hospitalized than an unrestrained child in the front seat.” With that said, children under the age of 12 should always sit in the rear of the car.
When parked in school lots or places where many kids are near, take a look around your entire vehicle before getting in a starting the engine to ensure no small children are playing close by. More children are hit by cars near schools than at any other location. Drive the school speed limits, especially in bad weather, to avoid any incidents. In general, please remember to take extra precaution and be alert when driving in areas where many children are present.
Check out our blog on back to school driving tips here.
Drowsy driving can have a significant impact on road safety, and it is estimated that drowsy drivers are involved in an about 12.5% of fatal crashes. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s annual Traffic Safety Culture Index, more than a third of drivers admit to falling asleep behind the wheel at some point of their lives, and more than 1 in 10 have been involved with the act of drowsy driving within the past year.
According to a survey from DMEautomotive, people are combating drowsy driving in the wrong ways, opting for ineffective answers that do little to lessen their drowsiness. The results of this drowsy driving survey showed drivers are far more likely to drink caffeine, play loud music, pull over to exercise or stretch, open windows, and turn up air conditioning — all of which do little or nothing to lessen the effects of drowsy driving.
The results of the survey demonstrated a lack of awareness regarding the dangers of drowsy driving and the effectiveness of different strategies to stay awake.
Remarkably, only numbers three and seven on the list — switching drivers and pulling over to take a nap — are proven to be useful means of combating drowsiness. The top response, drinking a caffeinated beverage, can produce a jolt of alertness, but the effect wears off quickly, according to experts.
1. Planning to get sufficient sleep before driving.
2. Avoiding even small amounts of alcohol.
3. Limiting driving between midnight and 6 a.m.
4. Switching driving duties with a passenger who is well rested.
5. Taking a short nap (about 15 to 20 minutes) and consuming caffeine equivalent to two cups of coffee is a temporary fix and should only be used to get you somewhere where you can sleep and regroup.
The other strategies to improve alertness when sleepy, such as opening a window or listening to the radio, have not been proven effective. Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving, and drowsy drivers present an unnecessary risk to both themselves and everyone around them.
In an effort to reduce the number of fatigue-related crashes and to save lives, the National Sleep Foundation is declaring Nov. 2-9, 2014 to be Drowsy Driving Prevention Week®. This annual campaign provides public education about the under-reported risks of driving while drowsy and countermeasures to improve safety on the road.
Sources
NSC.org
OSHA.org
