The News Wheel
No Comments

Survey Reveals Senior Drivers are Jeopardizing Their Driving Safety

Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page

Staying in control of a vehicle and staying safe on the road is tricky at any age, but as drivers get older the dangers associated with driving increase. The good news is that are ways to advance safety while driving; the bad news, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, is that most senior drivers —approximately 90 percent — aren’t taking advantage of “inexpensive adaptations to their vehicles that can improve safety and extend their time behind the wheel.”

Steering wheel covers and pedal extensions, which according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety are adept at “reducing a senior driver’s crash risk,” are largely ignored.

“Researchers investigated 12 vehicle adaptations and found that fewer than nine percent of senior drivers reported using any of the devices in their vehicles,” reports AAA.

In addition to the wheel covers and pedal extensions, senior drivers could find great safety benefits from devices including: cushions and seat pads, hand controls, and convex/multifaceted mirrors.

According to AAA, hip or back pain is lessened and the line of sight gets better with the use of seat pads and cushions.

“Hand controls allow the driver to perform all vehicle maneuvers and functions without the use of lower extremities,” reports AAA.

Blind spots shrink and visibility is enhanced with the use of convex/multifaceted mirrors, according to AAA.

Installing these aides is just the first step in the right direction, though.

“Choosing the right features and working with a trained technician is imperative to safety behind the wheel. Of those drivers who have a device, almost 90 percent reported that they did not work with a trained professional to install the modification, a key recommendation by both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA),” according to AAA. “AAA urges drivers to consult with a trained technician to guide them in making adjustments to their vehicle.”

News Source: AAA