Senior drivers fastest growing demographic on the planet
That’s why Swedish car manufacturer Volvo is studying how age-related changes put seniors at risk on the road. So far, the company’s research shows that older drivers have more accidents at intersections, although they tend to have fewer crashes overall. The car company wants to know why. To date, its studies have revealed two differences: Older drivers have less flexibility in the neck and a narrower field of vision. They also concentrate more on lines and marks on the road when positioning their cars compared to younger drivers who focus more attention on moving objects and other cars.
Volvo is trying to design a car that takes these factors, and others it may discover, into account and compensates for them. It’s a good thing. A United Nations report says over the next 40 years, drivers over the age of 60 will comprise more than 50% of all drivers in the developed world.
Older drivers need to retool their driving skills, says the AARP, to protect themselves and others. The agency is recommending that seniors take a driving course to teach them how to compensate for slower reaction times and changes in eyesight, hearing and physical strength. Senior drivers may not be aware those changes are affecting them, but all have a bearing on handling a car safely. AARP’s senior driving course is available online. There’s yet another program that helps seniors adjust their cars to help prevent injuries if they are in an accident. It’s called CarFit. It’s the first of its kind and it takes just 15 minutes.
By now, we all know it’s not healthy to be overweight. Medical reports rail against excess body fat, citing statistics that show even a few extra pounds can cause serious illnesses, from diabetes to heart ailments. Americans trying to stay healthy fight battles with their bathroom scales every day all over the United States.
A knock at the door rousts a woman out of bed. Her husband is off on his motorcycle doing an errand. One look at police on her front porch and she guesses the awful truth. He’s been killed. The man who hit him was drunk. A man driving his family to Mexico for a Christmas vacation is rear-ended at 90 miles an hour by a drunk driver. His wife and son are dead at the scene. His mother dies later.
On the morning of June 10, 2009, a blowout on a Houston freeway triggered a cascade of events that could have been fatal for the drivers involved. A blowout caused an 18 wheeler to jackknife and slam into two cars. Miraculously, all the drivers walked away unhurt; even the driver of the pickup truck with the tire that suddenly failed. There’s a lesson in the accident for all drivers. They can be in serious danger in the blink of an eye.
Watch out! You are entering one of the most dangerous driving seasons in America. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that Dec. 22, 23 and 24 are “among the deadliest days of the year for all drivers!” With all the stress and anxiety associated with the holidays – hyped this year by a down economy – distracted drivers and drivers afflicted with a dangerous case of road rage could make the entire month hazardous.
