There are two groups of people that are effected by their age and driving: teenagers and the elderly.
While you were sipping your cappuccino next to your teenager as they were driving to school, your dad was trying to get safely from his house to the market without hitting the pedestrians in the cross walk.
Increased Insurance Rates
Look around at your dad’s friends; he still has a lot doesn’t he?
There are more and more of your parents’ generation and maybe even your grandparents’ generation who are living longer and by extension that means they are also driving longer.
People over the age of 75 generally find that their auto insurance rates are not going down or even staying the same every year, but are slowly increasing. In cases where they have caused an accident, their insurance can double or even be dropped.
There are more stories in the news every day about senior citizens involved in major accidents when they accidently hit the gas peddle instead of the brake causing injuries to multiple people.
This type of increased risk for the older generation is due to slower reflexes, a longer time to mentally process the speed of other vehicles, as well as their own, and even the difficulty of seeing things peripherally or in the far distance.
Although in the day to day world of living, slow reflexes may result in the dropping of utensils or squinting at the menu when you go out to dinner, they are much more serious for not only your grandparents, but those around them.
For each accident involving a senior citizen, not only does it affect the driver’s rates, but all those in the same age group. Statically, accidents by the elderly are rising but not as common for teenagers.
Tips
Make sure that your elderly parents or grandparents talk to their doctor. Go with them if you have to so that you know what their capabilities are, both physically and mentally. Are they on medication? How does that affect them?
If the medication is taken only at night, then maybe they should limit there driving and errands to early morning or afternoon.
Take dad to an occupational therapist (aka physical therapist). They will help your dad find the best exercises for him to maintain his strength and general mobility; they may also be able to suggest special adaptive devices for autos that make driving easier.
A lot of insurance companies will reduce auto premiums if they take and pass a driver safety program. Classes cover a variety of things including the effects of medications, the safest way to change lanes, how to maintain a safe distance between cars, and ways to monitor driving abilities so they can tell if they are having issues driving before it’s too late.
Talk to him often, see if he’s comfortable driving. When he starts getting nervous or unsure, see what other options are available for him. Are they trains or buses that he can use instead of driving? Can family or friends pitch in and take him shopping or to the beach?
Insurance companies are looking for a reason to lower rates for senior citizens that still are good drivers. While teenagers are at risk because of their inexperience, the elderly are at risk due to slower reflexes and other possible physical limitations.
No one wants to give up their freedom, much like your teenager yearning for it, but there does come a time where driving may not be safe, for the driver or others nearby. Keep a calm and open line of communication with your dad, making him defensive may prevent him from seeing when it’s time to give up the keys.
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