What You Can Do

---

• Ask a professional driving instructor to assess your skills.



• Register for an accident prevention program tailored for older drivers.

The following checklist offers additional suggestions for keeping your fitness, concentration and vision/hearing as sharp as possible on and off the road.

Fitness

• Schedule regular physical exams.
  
  
• With physician approval, begin a regular exercise program.
  
  
• Consult a physician immediately if you have pain or swelling in your feet or pain or stiffness in your arms, legs or neck.

Concentration And Reaction

• Consult a physician if you experience memory loss.
  
  
• Plan your route before you begin driving.
  
  
• Drive familiar roads whenever possible.
  
  
• Watch traffic patterns and conditions and avoid driving during heavy traffic or poor weather.
  
  
• Avoid driving when taking over-the-counter or prescription medications that cause drowsiness, decrease energy or slow reaction times. Avoid driving for 1 to 2 days when taking any new medication, to ensure you do not have an adverse reaction.

Vision/Hearing

• Visit your eye health-care provider at least annually, or immediately if you experience sudden vision loss, eye pain or irritation.



• See your eye health-care provider annually if you are 60 years of age or older to check for cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other age-related conditions. Most eye diseases can be treated effectively when detected early.



• Wear corrective lenses at all times, as appropriate. Keep them clean. If glasses are lost or broken, do not rely on an old pair; replace them immediately with your newest prescription. Avoid eyewear with side pieces that may block your vision.



• Avoid driving at dawn, dusk and night. If you must drive, do not wear sunglasses or tinted lenses during these times. Consider wearing yellow-tinted lenses on gray days and at dusk and dawn.



• Consider wearing amber-tinted lenses on bright, sunny days for glare control.



• Do not darken or tint your vehicle windows.



• Keep your windshield, mirrors and headlights clean, and make sure the headlight aim is checked when your vehicle is inspected.



• Increase illumination on your vehicle’s instrument panel.



• Adjust your seat height so that you can see 10 feet of the road in front of your vehicle. This reduces nighttime glare from oncoming headlights. Also, look to the lower right side of the road when there is oncoming traffic.



• Eliminate your driver’s side blind spot by adjusting your side mirror. First, lean your head against the window, then move your mirror outward so that when you look at the inside edge, you can barely see the side of your vehicle. If you use a wide-angle mirror, practice judging distances to other vehicles before using it in traffic.



• Be alert to sounds outside your vehicle if hearing is limited. Limit passenger conversation and background noises from the radio. If you wear a hearing aid, avoid driving with open windows; wind noise can impair the aid’s effectiveness.

Drive Sensibly

• Avoid distractions. Do not eat, drink, apply makeup, adjust the radio, pick-up dropped objects, read the newspaper or daydream when operating your vehicle. Avoid using your cell phone. Focus on driving.
  
  
• Yield to other drivers. Remain on the defensive and assume other drivers have the right of way in all situations.
  
  
• Use caution at intersections. Be extra careful when entering and leaving intersections. Keep your vehicle’s wheels pointed straight ahead when waiting to turn left to avoid being pushed into oncoming traffic should you be rear-ended.
  
  
• Check your blind spots. Never rely on rear- and side-view mirrors alone. Turn your head and check blind spots before changing lanes.
  
  
• Keep your distance. Do not follow other vehicles too closely.