Brain Exercises Reduce Senior Drivers’ Crash Risk
Seniors are a statistical risk for accidents on the road because of physical limitations. However, they can also reduce their accident-risk rate by 50 percent from brain stimulation and enhanced knowledge about the road. Click here to view article.

http://www.csa.us/email/spirit/ssarticles/0612Lifestyle.html

By the year 2020, it’s estimated there will be 40 million drivers age 65 and over on roads in the United States, which is triple the number of drivers in that age group today (www.aaa.com). As people age, they tend to change their driving habits as physical capabilities are compromised. The senior may avoid highways and drive when the roads are less busy. Even so, statistics show that seniors are still at an increased risk for being involved in a multi-vehicle accident, most often at intersections. However, reputable organizations offer driving-skill assessments for seniors and provide educational programs that can help seniors hone their driving abilities, activate their brains, and keep them safer and on the roads for longer.

Why seniors are at risk for driving dangerously

Signs that a senior driver needs some exposure to safer driving techniques include multiple close calls, tickets or collisions; difficulty in noticing peripheral objects like pedestrians, signage or other vehicles; and a noticeable decline in physical abilities. Because seniors tend to be on more medications, they need to be aware of medications that can impair their driving. Some medications cause drowsiness or decrease the ability to react to and focus on what is on the road.

Also, the body becomes less flexible as it ages, so turning the head and neck can become increasingly difficult with age, making lane changes that much harder. Vision acuity is also affected and decreases with age. Eyes do not focus as quickly to changing circumstances on the road. Peripheral vision narrows with age, making the senior less able to see the entire scope of the roadway. Overall response times to events on the road are not as quick as they used to be.

Because seniors have been driving for many decades, they may resist the notion that they need to be educated on driving. However, a lot has changed since they learned to drive. Cars are more automated and computerized, road signs that did not exist before may be confusing to the driver, and roadways themselves are wider and faster. These updates can all provide opportunities for distraction. Combine that with the physical limitations the senior is experiencing, and accidents are more likely to occur. Even seniors who have not shown signs of being at risk can benefit from becoming more familiar with the new aspects of driving.

The link between brain stimulation and better driving

Brain-stimulating activities have proven to greatly reduce the likelihood that seniors will have an accident, by as much as 50 percent. Software programs and simulators can help seniors assess their abilities and work toward improving their skills for safer driving.

DriveSharp is a software program that is clinically proven to cut crash risk in half. The program helps drivers exercise their brains, and the goal each session is to quicken the response time to what they see on the road. DriveSharp measures the participant’s current crash risk and then provides the user with guidance about how to improve. Experts recommend doing the DriveSharp exercises for at least 10 hours to receive the most beneficial brainpower-boosting results and the most significant crash-reduction risk. The program is offered through a partnership with the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and Posit Science.

Driver safety course for seniors

Seniors who participate in safe driving courses can also reduce the risk of being involved in an accident. Seniors may be eligible for reduced insurance premiums upon completion of a safe driving course. Check with the insurance company for details. While many courses exist through state agencies, universities and private companies, it is useful to know that AARP and AAA offer quality programs as well.

AARP offers a driver safety course that teaches the rules of the road, defensive driving, dealing with your vehicle in today’s challenging driving environment, and managing age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time.

The curriculum includes:

• How to minimize the effects of dangerous blind spots
• How to maintain the proper following distance behind another car
• The safest ways to change lanes and make turns at busy intersections
• Proper use of safety belts, air bags, anti-lock brakes and new technologies used in cars
• Ways to monitor your own and others’ driving skills and capabilities
• The effects of medications on driving
• The importance of eliminating distractions such as eating, smoking and cell-phone use

After completing the course, participants receive a certificate of completion that can be presented to auto insurance companies for a possible reduction in auto insurance premiums. The AARP Driver Safety website is a great resource for senior drivers.

AAA has devoted an entire website to senior driving. It is loaded with information and tools for seniors and caregivers who have concerns or questions about senior driving issues. Another AAA offering is the Senior Driver Expo, sponsored by local AAA clubs. It tours the country to help seniors and their adult children deal with senior driving and mobility challenges. The Senior Driver Expo will offer a hands-on opportunity to sample AAA’s suite of research-based senior driver resources.

Attendees have access to tools that can help assess and improve driving skills, reduce driving risks and foster dialogue between adult children and their senior parents about driving issues. Families can take a test drive of several AAA senior driver safety products and tools on display, including:

• AAA Roadwise Review – A computer-based screening tool that allows users to measure the functional abilities scientifically linked to crash risk among older drivers.
• CarFit – A community-based program that offers older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles “fit” them for maximum comfort and safety.
• Smart Features for Mature Drivers – A guide that identifies vehicle features that can assist drivers with the visual, physical and mental changes that are frequently encountered as they age.

For information on upcoming events, contact your local AAA Club.

Seniors have the opportunity to greatly diminish their chances of having an accident by voluntarily getting educated about new driving issues and strengthening their bodies and their minds. Programs that evaluate and educate the senior driver are readily available, both online and in a classroom through reputable organizations. Ultimately, seniors will be able to keep their keys in hand and remain independent longer if their driving skills are safe and their knowledge is up-to-date about the roadways.

Seven Tips for Senior Driver Safety

Source: Mayo Clinic

1. Stay physically active – Physical activity improves strength and flexibility, enhancing the ability to turn the head and look for traffic, and to react in driving situations.
2. Schedule regular vision and hearing tests – Impaired vision and hearing can be a concern for older drivers. Doctors can help remedy compromises in vision and hearing that will keep the senior safer on the road.
3. Manage any chronic conditions – Chronic conditions, such as diabetes or seizures, can be a deterrent to safe driving. A doctor can give instructions for managing the condition and staying safer while driving.
4. Understand limitations – Consider physical limitations and make any necessary adjustments. Make changes to your automobile, or purchase a vehicle with special features such as larger mirrors, automatic windows and simpler dashboards.
5. Drive under optimal conditions – Drive during the daytime, in good weather, on quiet roads and in familiar areas. Also, be sure to get behind the wheel when you are fully alert and not tired or distracted.
6. Plan ahead / know the route to the destination – Call ahead for directions if necessary.
7. Update your driving skills – Consider taking a refresher course for older drivers to become a safer driver.