Aging is inevitable
But growing older doesn’t have to mean giving up an active life. While aging does impose physical limitations, many people achieved their greatest success when they were over 60. Almost everyone concerned with traffic safety wants to keep older drivers on the highways as long as they can drive safely. Age should never be mistaken as the sole indicator of driving ability. In fact, in Manitoba, drivers over 55 represent a wide range of abilities, and no individual will lose his or her licence solely because of age.
However, the skills needed for safe driving - vision, reflexes, flexibility, hearing - begin to deteriorate around age 55 with an even greater loss after 75. Aging drivers can adjust their driving habits to cope safely with this decline, but to do this they must recognize their limitations and unsafe driving practices and be aware of actions they can take to make their driving safer. Creating this awareness is the purpose of this booklet.
The rating form on the next page is for your use alone. Answer the questions as honestly as possible. Use the rating guide to compute your score and learn where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Then, read the Suggestions for Improvement section that corresponds to each question to see how to improve your driving.
The central idea is to help you drive safely as long as possible.
Additional Driving Tips
Handling Diverse Driving Conditions
back
to top
Rural Roads
While rural roads often have less traffic than city streets or highways, they
can pose special challenges for any driver.
Here are just a few potentially dangerous situations to watch out for:
- "Instant intersections" - as you drive, scan both sides of the road,
watching for hidden driveways, farm field accesses etc., which can become
"instant intersections".
- Watch for slow moving vehicles, like farm or construction equipment.
- Avoid passing whenever possible. If you must pass a slow moving vehicle,
ensure that there are no oncoming vehicles and give the vehicles behind you
plenty of notice of your intention by signaling early.
back
to top
City Driving
City driving can be frustrating, even nerve-racking, but if you observe the
traffic rules, signs and signals and keep the following tips in mind, it can be
much easier.
- Plan your route ahead of time.
- Make sure that you are in the correct lane. For example, if you know you
will need to make a right turn in three or four blocks, try to get in and stay
in the right-hand lane well in advance of your turn.
- Be alert for construction and resulting detours.
- Watch for pedestrians.
- Be alert and obey traffic signals.
- Scan the traffic conditions for about one block ahead.
- Be alert for potential traffic problems.
- Watch for brake lights.
- Avoid left turns whenever possible.
- Stop far enough back at lights to be able to maneuver out of dangerous or
emergency situations.
back
to top
Parking Lots
Pull straight through to a parking spot and park with the nose of the car
facing out whenever possible, to avoid backing out.
Drive in proper lanes only, never drive across parking spaces.
Be alert for vehicles which may suddenly back out of parking spaces. At
night, always try to park in well-lit areas.
When you return to your vehicle, have your keys ready in your hand.
Approach the car from the rear so that you can see the entire car and notice
if anyone is hiding or lurking nearby. As you approach, look under the vehicle
too. Always check inside the vehicle before getting in.
If you see anything suspicious, go back and get help!
back
to top
Highway Driving
Highway driving is often the most intimidating form of driving for the mature
driver. High speeds and multiple lanes, exit and entrance ramps can seem
daunting. But keeping these guidelines in mind will make highways look a little
friendlier:
- Always plan your route carefully. Make sure you know the names and
locations of all of the roads and exits that you will need to take.
- Obey posted speed limits. Remember that you must maintain at least the
minimum posted speed.
- Try to maintain a steady speed.
- Avoid unnecessary lane changes, stay in the right-hand lane especially if
you are moving slower than the rest of the traffic. Do not use the left, or
"fast" lane unless you are passing another vehicle.
- If you are uncomfortable driving at high speeds, try to avoid the highway
whenever possible.
- Do not follow too closely behind the vehicle in front of you.
- Observe directional and warning signs.
- Never back up on the highway.
Drowsiness can be a real danger with highway driving. To avoid drowsiness,
keep your eyes moving, scanning the road ahead. Move your head often. Open the
window to get fresh air. Take frequent rest stops; get out of the car and
stretch or walk around. If you find yourself becoming too sleepy to drive, pull
off the road and find a motel.
back
to top
Inclement Driving Conditions
Driving in Ice and Snow
The first rule of driving in ice and snow is: Don’t! However, if you
absolutely must drive in this weather condition:
- Make absolutely certain your vehicle is road worthy before you drive;
check windshield wipers and window defrosters, clear all windows and
headlights and brake lights of ice and snow, check tire tread. Get a good set
of snow tires.
- Maintain a safe speed. You will have to drive more slowly than usual.
- Maintain a greater distance from the car in front of you, so that you’ll
have plenty of stopping time.
- Remember that bridges, overpasses and exit ramps may be hazardous and iced
over even when other roads are in good condition.
- Do not use cruise control on icy or snow-packed roads.
back
to top
If you Start to Skid
- Don’t panic, stay calm. Calm, smooth movements can help you avoid a
collision.
- Take your foot off of the accelerator pedal.
- Don’t brake, unless it is absolutely necessary.
- Steer gently in the direction that the rear end of the car is skidding. In
other words, steer in the direction you want to go.
- Always, always wear your seat belt.
back
to top
Rain and Fog
Again, it’s best if you can avoid driving in these conditions. But if you
can’t:
- Remember that streets are slickest just after a rain begins.
- Don’t use cruise control on rain-slicked roads or in foggy conditions.
Turn on your headlights in rain or fog. Don’t use your high beam lights in
fog.
- Lower your speed.
- In fog, watch the tail lights in front of you carefully, but don’t follow
too closely. Be especially alert for brake lights.
back
to top
Night Driving
Night driving can be especially difficult for the mature driver because of
changes in vision. Some tips on handling these obstacles have already been
covered under the earlier section, but here are some other helpful guidelines on
dealing with night driving:
- Try to stay on streets with which you are familiar.
- Don’t look directly into oncoming headlights. Look to the side at the
white line or the shoulder of the road.
- Make an extra effort to scan, not just the road ahead, but both sides of
the road.
- Use high beams when necessary, but remember to switch back to low beams
when you see oncoming vehicles.
- If a vehicle behind you either flashes its high beams at you or leaves
them on and follows too closely, slow down and encourage the driver to pass.
back
to top
Road
Construction
- Lower your speed through all construction zones. Be on the lookout for
special posted speeds.
- Increase the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of
you. Watch for and follow detour signs.
- Don’t use cruise control through construction zones.
- Be on the lookout for workers and flagpersons. Follow directions from
flagperson or law enforcement officials.
back
to top
Sharing the Road with
Trucks
To reduce the chance of an accident with a large truck, it is important to
understand how to share the road safely with them. Here are a few points to
consider when sharing the road with trucks:
- Trucks take much longer to stop than a car travelling at the same speed.
- Trucks make very wide right turns, swinging out to the left before making
the turn. Never pass a truck without carefully watching for turn signals
first.
- Trucks have more severe blind spots than passenger cars. Always keep in
mind that if you cannot see the truck driver in his side mirror, he cannot see
you.
- Do not cut into the open space in front of a truck when you are trying to
reach an exit or turn.
- Don’t linger alongside a truck when passing. If you linger alongside the
truck, your position makes it impossible for the trucker to take evasive
action if an obstacle appears in the road ahead.
- Don’t follow too closely behind a truck.
- Never underestimate the size and speed of an approaching semi-trailer
truck. Because of its large size, a semi-trailer truck often appears to be
travelling at a slower speed than it actually is. A substantial number of
car-truck collisions take place at intersections because the driver of the car
does not realize how close the truck is or how quickly it is approaching.
back
to top
Sharing the Road with
Motorcycles, Bicycles and Other Two-Wheeled Vehicles
Drivers must routinely share the roadway with two-wheeled vehicles such as
motorcycles and bicycles. To keep yourself and the two-wheeled traffic safe,
remember:
- Motorcycles and bicycles are entitled to the same right-of-way and are
required to obey the same traffic laws as are operators of automobiles or
trucks.
- Because two-wheeled vehicles are much smaller and more difficult to spot
than other vehicles on the road, it is extremely important that you, the
automobile driver, be extra alert for two-wheeled vehicles. This is especially
true at night or during other low-light times because often bicycles do not
have headlights or proper reflectors.
- Two-wheeled vehicles have a much shorter stopping distance than heavier
cars or trucks and as a result can stop suddenly. Increase your following
distance behind motorcycles or bicycles.
back
to top
Following Safely
Rear end crashes are most commonly caused by following too closely. You are
responsible for maintaining a safe following distance - one which provides you
with sufficient time to stop in an emergency. Use a four-second following
distance when following under ideal driving conditions - allow more time under
adverse conditions. The four second following distance works at any speed. Here
is the way to calculate it:
- Watch for when the rear of the vehicle ahead of you passes a sign or a
marker.
- Start counting: One thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand
and three, one thousand and four.
- If the front of your vehicle reaches the sign or marker before you stop
counting, you are following too closely. The safety factor or following
distance is greater if it takes more than four seconds.
back
to top
Know Your Limits
Being a safe driver means more than avoiding collisions. It also means paying
attention to road conditions and being aware of your own changing abilities.
Just a few simple adjustments, such as limiting your driving to certain times or
under certain conditions can help protect you and those around you from
dangerous collisions.
back
to top
Conditional
Driving
Conditional driving licences may be issued by the Division of Driver and
Vehicle Licencing to allow drivers with changing physical abilities to drive
under certain conditions. For example, your conditional licence might allow you
to drive during the day and at speeds less than 70 km per hour. This would allow
you to still drive in town during the day to activities such as appointments or
shopping trips.
With a conditional licence, you can continue to drive, but only under
conditions that are comfortable and safe for you and other drivers. For further
information on conditional licences, you can call 945-7386.
back
to top
Getting Additional Help
There are organizations in Manitoba that offer refresher courses for older
drivers. These courses can update you on traffic laws, signs, signals, markings
and give practical advice to help you drive safely.
For further information on available courses, contact the following
organizations:
back
to top
When to stop
There are organizations in Manitoba that offer refresher courses for older
drivers.
A driver’s chronological age is not a good predictor of driving ability. What
counts on the road is performance. Here are a few of the signs of diminished
capacity for driving safely:
- Having a series of minor collisions or near misses.
- Having wandering thoughts or being unable to concentrate while driving.
- Being unable to read ordinary road signs.
- Having other drivers honk at you frequently.
- Being spoken to about your driving by police, family, and friends.
Transportation Options
Owning a car is expensive, especially if one seldom drives or drives only
short distances. Try this simple exercise. Create a budget for your
transportation expenses. You will be surprised at how much mobility you can
purchase for your car's annual cost.
| Gas and oil |
|
| Maintenance |
|
| Tires |
|
| Depreciation |
|
| Insurance |
|
| Registration/licence fee |
|
| Finance expense |
|
- If you are considering a move, look for a home that is close to shopping
and recreational opportunities.
- Car pool and share the driving with friends and family. There's nothing
nicer than sharing a warm car with family and friends!
- Let someone else do the driving. Hop a bus or take a cab!
These and other options will allow you to still get around.
Follow the simple guidelines in this booklet and you, too, can remain an
older and wiser driver!
And Remember -
Always Wear Your Seat Belt!
* Adapted with permission from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's
Drivers 55 Plus: Check Your Own Performance, Your Keys to Freedom and Safety,
and The Older and Wiser Driver; and from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles'
Indiana's Guide for the Mature Driver.
The video, The Older and Wiser Driver, is available on loan from both CAA
Manitoba and the Manitoba Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat. If you would
prefer to read or view information on older drivers before attending the
recommended courses, the following organizations can assist you:
CAA Manitoba
Phone: 987-6166 or
1·800·222-4357
Manitoba Seniors and Healthy Aging
Secretariat
Phone: 945-6565 or 1·800·665-6565 |
 |
