If you are one of the many Washington folks who have elderly loved ones that still drive, you may have experienced some apprehension at the thought of them on the road. Often, the focus on safe driving is geared towards younger generations with less experience. However, it is just as important to encourage safe driving practices in regards to your senior family members for their own protection and that of other drivers on the road.
According to the Huffington Post, there are friendly and positive ways in which you can talk to your elderly family members about how to drive safely. These include the following:
- Share conversations: One of the easiest things you can do is to sit down and have a conversation with your loved one. Begin by acknowledging his or her desire to remain independent. Ask him or her if there are any concerns about driving or any physical or mental limitations that could potentially cause danger.
- Do some research: You may be surprised at the amount of resources designed just for encouraging driver safety among senior residents. With some simple research, you can find programs designed to test a person’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. You may also talk to your loved one about taking a test to assess how comfortably he or she fits into his or her vehicle.
- Provide assistance: If you catch wind that maybe your loved one is not comfortable driving long distances, driving in the dark, driving on certain roads or even driving altogether, provide assistance. This may come in the form of offering rides or arranging other means of transportation.
Encouraging your elderly family members to maintain their physical abilities, vision and cognitive abilities can help them to drive safer and more confidently. Your efforts may make an active difference in helping your loved one avoid a potentially dangerous car accident. The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal advice.