Safe driving guide for seniors

When a person gets older, the body's abilities also decrease. One of them is an activity that requires high concentration such as driving. In fact, there are some elderly people who are still undergoing professions in this field. So, how do you keep driving activity safe for the elderly?

Is it safe for the elderly to drive?

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Based on Law Number 13 of 1998 concerning Elderly Welfare, the elderly are those aged 60 years and over. At that age, many worries arise when you want to do certain activities, one of which is driving or driving.

Actually, determining how safe driving is for the elderly really depends on the condition of their individual bodies. This activity may be safe to do if the body is still in prime condition.

However, it should also be remembered that when you enter old age, the body's ability to react is certainly not as good as it was when you were young. This ability includes the speed at which the body receives visual information to produce motor reactions.

One example is being less alert to hit the brakes or turn the wheel when you see something blocking the road. The impaired vision ability also worsens. This is what makes the elderly have a greater risk of accidents.

Fortunately, this risk can be reduced if the elderly follow basic safety rules such as wearing seat belts and not driving at high speeds.

Safe driving tips for the elderly

If you are an elderly person and you still need to drive a lot, here are other things you can apply to ensure that this activity does not pose a safety risk.

1. Keep your body active

Driving requires a strong level of endurance. The reason is, you will sit for several hours while still looking at the road ahead. You will also perform movements such as looking over your shoulder when turning the wheel or parking the vehicle.

To stay safe while driving, try to do regular physical activity by keeping your body moving, such as walking. You can also add in stretching and light strength training exercises.

2. Regular health checks

Several senses such as hearing and sight play an important role in your level of concentration while driving. If hearing is impaired, this is dangerous, such as when other vehicles are approaching. Vision problems will also distract you from paying attention to the road.

The solution, make a schedule to meet regularly with the doctor to check the health of the elderly, especially your vision and hearing. Routine checks will help you find out if there are problems which, if possible, affect your driving ability.

If you wear glasses, check your eyes regularly and make sure the eyeglass lenses are right so they can make you see more clearly. Sometimes, your doctor may recommend that you drive only during the day.

For those of you who have certain health conditions such as diabetes or low blood sugar, consult your doctor again to find out the specific time you should avoid doing this activity.

Some drugs that are consumed can also affect performance while driving, so read the drug labels carefully to find out their effects.

3. Driving weather is good

Especially when it rains, the roads that will be traversed will definitely become more slippery. If you are not sure whether to drive, it's better to abandon your mind and wait for the rain to stop.

In addition, it is a good idea to drive when the sun is not hot because it is feared that it can dazzle the view.

4. Not struggling with cell phones

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Whether the elderly or young, distractions such as struggling with cell phones still pose a dangerous risk while driving.

Avoid opening the cellphone even though there are incoming calls or messages. If you need a guide facility such as GPS, prepare it before leaving by directly entering your destination.

5. Know your physical limitations

Realize that your physical strength is not as good as before, some movements such as holding the wheel for too long can make your hands feel uncomfortable. Get around this by using a thick steering cloth so that your hands don't feel pain when you have to turn the wheel.

Also choose the car that suits you. Choose a car with a lower door with a seat that is not too high to make it easier for you to get into. You can also choose a car with a cab with AC settings, levers, and radio channels with a clearer legibility to make it easier to use.

An elderly sign must start to stop driving

Judging from the explanation above, the main factor in safety while driving is a person's ability to do so. If you can still drive a considerable distance without running into trouble, it's still safe to do this activity. However, be careful with the following signs.

• Late response to emergency situations.
• Loss of confidence while driving.
• Has difficulty keeping the vehicle running straight.
• Switches speed drastically, from low to high or vice versa.
• Easy to get distracted.
• Several times crashed into objects around him.

If you start experiencing it, it's better to give up driving or driving activities to the people closest to you for your safety.

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