As we get older, it can sometimes feel like our independence is slipping away from us. We can’t necessarily do all the things we once did on our own, and we may need a bit of help tending to the yard or doing odd jobs around the house.
For many of us, driving is one form of freedom and independence that we hang onto even as we age. In fact, more people are driving well into their later years – more than ever before. In 2018, it was reported that there were 45 million licensed drivers over the age of 65 in the United States. This represented a 60% increase since the year 2000.
However, it’s essential for older drivers to exercise an even higher degree of caution when taking to the roads. Here’s what you need to know about being an older adult driver and how to protect yourself.
As we age, our risk of sustaining serious injuries or suffering a fatality in a car crash increases. In 2018, nearly 7,700 older adults (aka over the age of 65) were killed in traffic accidents. More than 250,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries caused by collisions. These figures mean that each day, over 20 older adults were killed in auto accidents, with almost 700 experiencing injuries.
These figures have been attributed to the increased physical vulnerability that we experience as we move into our later years. As we get older, our cognitive abilities, hearing, and vision often deteriorate, which can also heighten our likelihood of getting into accidents and therefore experiencing crash-related injuries.
While these statistics may be troubling, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself on the roads as an older adult driver. Some of these steps include:
If you’ve been in a car crash, there are a few key things you should do immediately thereafter to safeguard your future:
As an older adult driver, it’s necessary to remain aware of the risks you face and how you can effectively mitigate these risks. Unforeseen events like car accidents present a particularly prominent risk, with a host of potential adverse consequences. However, by taking the relevant precautions and knowing what to do in the event of a crash, you’ll feel more confident taking to the roads well into your later years.
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