Road Wise Older Drivers Passenger Safety Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in cooperation with Texas Department of Transportation Educational programs

Road WiseRoad Wise Older Drivers

Passenger SafetyTexas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

in cooperation with

Texas Department of Transportation

Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability,genetic information or veteran status. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension ServicePassenger Safety

Aging and Driving SuccessfullyAging and Driving Successfully

Everything hurts and what doesn’t hurt doesn’t work.

You have too much room in the house and not enough in the medicine cabinet.

You know you’re getting old when… Your children begin to

look middle-aged. You want to see how

long your car will last instead of how fast it will go.



Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts, 2009


Physical Changes Vision Reflexes Hearing Arthritis External Influences



Vision accounts for 90%+ of the cues needed for driving.

As we age:peripheral vision declinesbecomes harder to see detailmore difficult to focus on near

objectstemporary blind spots created



TIPS for Better Driving Vision 1. Eye Checkup 2. Clean Glass and Mirrors 3. Time to Adjust to Dark 4. Look Away from Lights 5. Avoid Night Driving 6. Check Mirrors 7. Give Extra Time and Distance



Reaction time begins to slow down

Your hearing may decline



What can you do?Keep alert.Increase your following distance.Avoid heavily traveled or high

speed areas.Plan your trip and drive your plan.





Close Calls...


Photo: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety



Documents

Road Wise Older Drivers Passenger Safety Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in cooperation with Texas Department of Transportation Educational programs