Driving a car is fun, but not if you already have a lot of wrinkles and grey hair. In fact, once you've reached the age of 50 or 60, you are expected to have difficulty seeing the road ahead and the surroundings while driving.
According to some medical research, your ability to see moving objects while you're on the move gets slowly diminished than your ability to see immobile objects.
When you reach the age of 50 or 60, you're also expected to develop driving problems as a result of age-related eye diseases. Glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy are four of the popular forms of eye diseases of the elderly. They may manifest already even if you are not aware of their symptoms. If you contracted any of these eye ailments, you are most likely to lose acute peripheral vision, something that you can't afford to happen especially if you drive frequently.
If you are an elderly driver, you may want to undergo a vision screening first. Each state has its own vision screening tests, which is a requirement when renewing your driver's license. Because an accident is imminent when you have an eye ailment, you may also want to hire a personal injury attorney Los Angeles, too. That way, if you want to receive compensation from the injuries you suffered, you can have your attorney work it out for you.
Important tips for elderly drivers
Staying safe on the road is not an easy undertaking if you are an elderly driver. But, making a habit of executing the following tips may decrease the chances of you getting involved in an accident:
- Never use your mobile phone while driving. Whether you are an elderly driver or not, calling or texting someone on your mobile phone while driving is extremely dangerous and is seen as a driving distraction. Many drivers have been either injured or killed because of using a mobile phone while behind the steering wheel.
- Be careful when approaching intersections. Many fatal accidents involving elderly motorists happen when they fail to yield whenever they make a left turn in busy intersections.
- Refrain from driving into unknown streets, especially at night. Or, you may avoid night driving at all. According to the National Safety Council, the rate of traffic rates is three times higher at night than during the day. If you are driving at night, be sure that you avoid streets and roadways that have poor lighting and signage.
- Have someone who is able to see clearly accompany you. When you drive at night, for example, your eyes have the tendency to squint when you cannot read clearly a traffic sign or you cannot stand the glare coming from the headlights of incoming vehicles. Have someone younger than you and with no eye problems be your guide. He or she could be your son, daughter, or grandchild.
