Florida leads the nation with more than 17 percent of its population 65-years-old and older. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), that’s a number that’s going to continue growing.
At some point in all of our lives, it’s going to be the best decision to give up the keys — for our own safety and for the safety of other travelers. This is especially important during the winter months when we see an abundance of snowbirds returning to the area.
Our Hollywood car accident attorneys know Florida’s Older Driver Safety Awareness week kicks of awareness efforts. This week-long campaign is used statewide to help to make sure that seniors continue to enjoy their freedom, but do so in a safe manner.
Everyone ages differently, so there is no arbitrary cutoff as to when someone should stop driving. However, older adults are more likely to receive traffic citations and get into accidents than younger drivers.
Driving is how we see the people we want to see and how we do the things we want to do at our convenience. But changes in our physical, mental, and sensory abilities can challenge our continued ability to drive safely.
“Being able to remain active and productive members of their communities is important to our older residents, and by highlighting the importance of driver safety, we hope they can continue to safely enjoy this freedom,” said Julie L. Jones with the DHSMV.
Older Driver Safety Tips:
-Plan out your driving time. You want to make sure that you’re doing a majority, if not all, of your driving during daylight hours when traffic is light.
-Know the route you will take. It’s in your best interest to minimize left turns.
-Make sure that you look both ways before you make a turn or enter into an intersection.
-Try to avoid changing lanes unless absolutely necessary.
-Keep the volume to your radio low or off.
-Make sure that you’re getting your hearing and your vision tested annually.
-Keep an eye on the medications you’re taking. Make sure that none of them are impairing your driving abilities or your judgment.
-Look into alternative transportation options.
Motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of injury-related deaths in the older population (persons 65 years and older). Per mile driven, the fatality rate for drivers 85 years and older is nine times higher than the rate for drivers 25- to 69-years-old.
It may be beneficial for the elderly drivers in your family to look into a driver safety course. Some drivers age 50-plus have never looked back since they got their first driver’s license. Even the most experienced drivers can benefit from brushing up on their driving skills.
If you or someone you love was injured in an accident, contact Freeman Injury Law at 1-800-561-7777 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.
More Blog Entries:
Save Lives This Holiday: MADD Aims to Stop Drinking and Driving, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, November 25, 2013
Advances in Automotive Technology and Questions of Liability, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, November 15, 2013