| Should Some Seniors Still Be Driving? |
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| Written by David Smith |
| Tuesday, 26 October 2010 22:34 |
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Older drivers probably have a lot of good things going for them. They have lots of experience behind the wheel, and they should be mature decision makers. This is mostly true for older drivers in their 50's and 60's, and they may be considered good risks by insurers. However, as people start to age into their 70's and 80's, some of these positives may be offset by health issues of aging.
Older drivers probably have a lot of good things going for them. They have lots of experience behind the wheel, and they should be mature decision makers. This is mostly true for older drivers in their 50's and 60's, and they may be considered good risks by insurers. However, as people start to age into their 70's and 80's, some of these positives may be offset by health issues of aging. You may have noticed that auto pollicy premiums start to go up around age seventy. A number of companies will decline to cover any driver over eighty, though other companies cover people up to age ninety-nine. In any case, insurers may start charging more because they consider elderly people to be a higher risk group. People under age 25 are another example of a group that is risky and more expensive to insure. Because of their youth, they may lack the best judgement and driving skills. Seniors have judgement and experience, but they may have slower reflexes, failing eyesight, or other health issues. Consider some of the warning signs. Some warning signs are obvious, but some can be much more subtle at the beginning. However, if you are caring for an older person, it is important to notice early warning signs so you can avert worse problems or tragedies. Have you noticed that Grandpa has been missing traffic signs, losing his way, or even getting stopped for failure to obey a traffic rule. This can be an early warning that he should give up his car keys. New dents in the car can be another sign. If grandma is having a few minor wrecks, and trying to cover them up, this should make you concerned. Most drivers have had minor accidents, but you should be able to notice if these start to increase. A loss of muscle strength or the pain of age related conditions like arthritis may make it harder to respond to traffic conditions too. What can you do if you know a risky older driver? There are some steps that any concerned care giver should take to help a senior driver. Ignoring the problem will not make it vanish, and will probably just make it worse. Some associations and companies offer senior citizen driving courses. This can help them refresh their skills, adjust to safe driving habits for their age, or even help them understand why they should not drive. If you need to take away the keys, you can also find resources to help you do that. It is not easy to confront an older person about their driving, so rely on some support to get started. Make sure you have some good ideas for transportation when you have to take away the car. Most areas have some sort of senior services, which include a bus or van. Others provide low cost taxis. If you cannot take advantage of a service like this, you may need to find family members who will take turns driving Grandma to the store or Grandpa to the dentist. Some older people are still good drivers. People age differently. Some 80 year olds are still very good drivers, and these days, many of these older people still commute to work! But even a fit senior citizen may have to pay more for car insurance because that high risk label insurers will place on the age group. There are ways to counter this by looking for discounts that seniors may qualify for. For example, if the senior only uses the car for trips to the doctor or grocery store, they may qualify for a low mileage discount. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. Get more help with senior driving issues - When Should Senors Stop Driving? Also visit us for more information about midlife changes. |