Did you know that the number of Americans, age 65 and older, has grown from 35 million in 2000 to 49.2 million in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau? With the average senior living longer today, a tremendous increase in older drivers has occurred on our country’s highways. The Centers for Disease Control reveals another shocking 2015 statistic: “More than 6,800 older adults were killed and more than 260,000 were treated for motor vehicle crash injuries. In spite of seniors’ 5 to 6 decades of driving experience, the snap decisions needed to avoid vehicle accidents often have difficulty being executed in less than the necessary two second time period. This is why other sobering statistics reveal that 80 year old drivers often get into just as many accidents as 18 year old ones.
AARP’s 2017 article “When It’s Time to Give Up Driving,” gives us practical suggestions on how to broach this difficult and emotionally-wrought subject matter to our families’ seniors. AARP tells us to:
1. Talk to our loved ones long before it’s “a must” and 2. Assess their driving skills by riding regularly along with them in both daylight and night time light. When sitting in the front passenger seat, signs of diminished ability should become obvious, especially after repeated drives. Most authorities on the subject inform us to not make age alone a factor. Instead look for ability, agility, vision/hearing and mental acuity that will come into play.
According to AARP, here are 16 signs to watch for in our loved one’s driving:
1. Is easily distracted
2. Has delayed response to unexpected situations
3. Runs lights or stop signs
4. Clips the curve
5. Exhibits lane drifting or has trouble changing lanes 6. Misjudges distance
6. Shows loss of driving confidence
7. Has frequent close calls
8. Drives too fast or too slow
9. Other drivers honk often
10. Gets lost in familiar places
11. Not alert to other cars or pedestrians
12. Family is worried about driving
13. Has trouble moving foot from gas to brake
14. Confuses gas and brake
15. Has been pulled over by police for driving infractions
16. Has had accidents, fender benders, car scrapes.
If you notice the above red flags, it might not be too late and still might be helpful for your senior to register for an AARP Smart Drivers’ Course. Huntley Library is now taking registrations for Wednesday, October 17 & 18 from 12:30 to 4:30 P.M. (each day) with an 8 hour total two day driver’s safety theme. AARP membership is not required. Bring your driver’s license and $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. Our own Prairie Lodge’s Fountainview’s Cedar Room will also be the site of the same classes with the same requirements on Friday, November 2. Please check our Lifestyles’ magazine for hours and more info. The sooner that you register for these critical courses, the more likely you will make the quotient of numbers being allowed to attend. ***A NOTE: All of us over the age of 50 can benefit from these highly instructional hours.
In Part 2: I will discuss the newer and tougher IL rules for seniors to pass driver’s tests as they age.
In Part 3: I will discuss how to begin talks with those seniors unable to pass driver tests and necessary physicals and, therefore, unable to continue driving. I will also inform all of us about the transportation options fortunately available to those of us without car keys living in Sun City.
