Older drivers need to plan ahead, keep skills sharp

Driving requires your physical senses, as well as a good dose of common sense. With a little attention to detail and help from a refresher driving course, most people can drive safely well until their later years.

"There are four senses you have to use when you're driving: sight, hearing, feeling and — most of all — common sense," said Hank Goldman, a driving instructor for the AARP Driver Safety Program. "Your hearing, eyesight and judgment change because of age.

"When you get older, your reactions slow down, so you have to give yourself more time to think and react to situations when driving," he said. To stay spry behind the wheel, seniors can enroll in defensive-driving refresher courses like those offered through AARP.

The AARP Driver Safety Program classes, which are interactive lecture-style courses, are held throughout the country and require only a nominal fee, a small price to pay for staying safe behind the wheel — and receiving an insurance discount.

"You should take a driving course to refresh your mind," Goldman said. "Take it as soon as you can, then take it again every few years after that.

"The AARP course is good because it refreshes your memory as to what you should do in different situations," he said. "And most insurance companies offer a discount when you complete the class."

Even without a refresher course, there are plenty of things seniors can do to ensure they arrive safely at their destination — including plan ahead.

"One of the things that I teach in my course is that if you're going someplace you haven't been before, look at a map before you go and find the streets," Goldman said.

Know what to look for along the chosen route, especially landmarks that indicate a turn coming up.

"Find the streets before where you want you go. If you're going to Fourth Street, know that you have to look for First Street, Second Street and so on before you turn," he said. "Or, have a passenger with you to help you navigate so you don't have to watch the road and the street signs at the same time."

Seniors should also be aware of their driving limitations.

For example, drivers who are not as aggressive as they used to be may have trouble navigating freeways, he said. "As you get older you get more timid, and most older people have trouble driving on the freeway," Goldman said.

Instead, stick to local roads. It may take a bit longer to reach the destination, but the extra few minutes are worth it. "If get on the freeway and you're not driving correctly, you're a menace."

Medical issues can also pose serious dangers to the senior driver. In addition to scheduling regular medical and eye exams, seniors need to stay on top of current treatments and medications, as both can affect driving skills and reaction time.

"Different medications affect different people in different ways," Goldman said. "Some people may not get drowsy or get drowsy later. Others get drowsy right away. You need to know how your medications affect you."

Seniors also need to remember that the physical realm is not alone in affecting judgment. Stress, emotions and mental distractions play an equal part in staying alert behind the wheel.

"Don't drive in stressful driving situations," Goldman cautioned. "If you get upset in traffic, don't drive during rush hour. Also, don't drive after an argument or when you're upset because then your judgment is clouded.

"If you're driving, concentrate on your driving. Do not have serious conversations with others in the car," he said. "And if there are many other people in the car and you are having trouble concentrating, ask them to be quiet."

In the end, sound driving comes down to common sense and relying on defensive driving lessons learned in driver's ed, Goldman said.

"Remember the three-second rule of distance: After a car passes a fixed object, count to three and you should be passing that object. That gives you a safe distance between you and the car ahead.

"In bad weather, remember to increase the distance. Basically, you have to keep an appropriate distance from the car ahead."

Also, he said, "If you see brake lights go on ahead of you, realize that you will have to be stopping or slowing down.

"The biggest thing is common sense. Let other people know what you are going to do. If you are sitting at a stop sign and someone else has their turn signal on, wave them through. Ten seconds is not a big deal to avoid an accident."

Above all, self-assessment may be the most important safe-driving tool, Goldman said.

"If you're having a problem with driving, admit it."

Information on the AARP Driver Safety Program: www.aarp.org/drive/home.html or (888) 227-7669. Be ready to enter a 5-digit ZIP code. A local volunteer will call back within three to five business days.