FLEXIBILITY EXERCISES FIT PEOPLE MAKE BETTER DRIVERS ...

1 Driver Refresher Courses Contact the American Association of RetiredPersons (AARP) for information on their 55 Alive Mature Driver Program. 888-227-7669 Contact your local AAA office for information on their Safe Driving for Mature OperatorsProgram. Contact the National Safety Council for information on their Coaching the MatureDriver Program. 1-800-621-6244 Contact the Traffic Improvement Association forinformation on their Mature Driver Assessment Guides The Older Driver Skill Assessment and ResourceGuide: Creating Mobility Choices. To request asingle copy, write to:AARP Fulfillment601 E Street NWWashington, DC 20049(Ask for document number D14957) DRIVERS 55 Plus: Test Your Own Performance Available for a fee from the AAA Foundation forTraffic Safety. Call 1-800-305-SAFEand ask forpublication EXERCISES Available from the AAA Foundation for TrafficSafety. Call 1-800-305-SAFEand ask for stock Alternatives Look in the government section of your phone book Contact the American Association of RetiredPersons (AARP) 888-227-7669or USEFUL WEB SITESFree Internet access is available at many Highway Traffic Safety Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration: Association of Retired Foundation for Traffic State of State (Driver Improvement Hearings) Improvement Assoc.

2 Of Oakland your insurance company s web siteDriver Rehabilitation and Evaluation CentersTo locate a driver evaluation and rehabilitation centernear you, contact the Association of Driver Educatorsfor the Disabled at 1-800-290-2344 Hospital Occupational Therapy UnitContact your local hospital occupational therapy unitto see if they offer a driving program geared towardsthe older driver. Many have one in is a physical exercise which requires a certain level of strength, FLEXIBILITY andcoordination to do safely. As we age, some decline in our physical fitness is , studies have shown that exercise can actually slow down the aging fitness training can be an effective tool in improving range of motion andincreasing levels of fitness among older DRIVERS , resulting in BETTER driving Resources:Driving is a physical exercise which requires a certainlevel of strength, FLEXIBILITY and coordination to do we age, some decline in our physical fitness is , studies have shown that exercise can actuallyslow down the aging process.

3 FLEXIBILITY fitness trainingcan be an effective tool in improving range of motionand increasing levels of fitness among older DRIVERS ,resulting in BETTER driving and physical activity are essentially a tune-up for our heart, muscles and joints. An effective exerciseprogram should do three things: challenge your heart andlungs aerobically, stretch and strengthen your muscles,and loosen your joints to make them flexible. Flexibilitypermits DRIVERS to move their entire body, including theirjoints, more freely in order to observe the road from allangles and eliminate traffic blind more EXERCISES , visit the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety web site at or call 1-800-993-7222 to request a by the partnership for family safetydeveloped by the michigan state police third district headquartersCHIN FLEXION-EXTENSION: 1. Bend head forward, touching chin on Tilt head backward until forehead is parallel to the five times in each for checking images in your mirrors, preventing ROTATION:1.

4 Turn neck as far to the right as Turn neck as far to the left as five times in each for looking over your shoulder to check for blind spots, parallel parking, adjusting mirrors, ROTATION: 1. From a sitting position, slowly rotate your trunk, from waist up, to the left. Try to keep hips in place, facing Return to the forward Repeat move to the five times in each when parallel parking, reversing, adjusting EXERCISESThe following EXERCISES are designed to improve FLEXIBILITY as it relates to driving. As with any new exerciseprogram, you should consult your physician before attempting them. Keep in mind that FLEXIBILITY variesfrom person to person only stretch as far as is comfortable for you, and always stop if you feel pain orbecome dizzy or lightheaded. When beginning these EXERCISES , move slowly and avoid jerky PEOPLE MAKE BETTER DRIVERSHow s My Driving?SIMPLE TIPS FOR MAINTAINING DRIVING SKILLS provided by the partnership for family safetyAs older DRIVERS , it is our responsibility to maintain high-quality driving habits or consider other avenues oftransportation for the safety of others and we grow older, our bodies react less quickly in certainsituations.

5 Our vision decreases, our hearing is lessened,and our fine motor skills may also decrease. We begin toprocess things more slowly, and the world appears to bemoving at a much faster pace. The amount of cars on theroadway has notedly increased, and it may cause us tobecome confused, angry or over-burdened in our drivingabilities. At this point, it is important that we are notafraid to put restrictions on our own has shown that, even though we travel fewer milesper year, older DRIVERS are more prone to being seriouslyinjured or killed in an accident. Based on the estimatedannual miles traveled, the fatality rate for DRIVERS 65 andolder is an astonishing 17 times higher than the rate fordrivers 25 to 64 years old. No one should be expected to give up their driver s licensebased solely on their age. There are PEOPLE of every agethat are safe, responsible DRIVERS .

6 The goal is to keepolder DRIVERS on the highway as long as they can safelydrive. To assist in reaching this goal you can complete aself-assessment test or take a driver refresher / evaluationcourse. These courses do not report to the Secretary ofState, and are designed to educate the driver aboutunsafe driving behaviors, rules of the road, new laws anddefensive driving other DRIVERS honk or pass you frequently, even whentraffic is moving relatively slowly? Yes NoDo you become nervous or anxious when approachingintersections? Yes NoHave you found yourself in more close calls and near-misses on the road? Yes NoDo you arrive at a location and not remember how yougot there? Yes NoHave your family and friends commented negatively onyour driving habits? Yes NoAre the police stopping you more often? Yes NoDo you notice more dents and dings in your vehicle anddo not know how they got there?

7 Yes NoIf you answered yes to any of these questions, then it couldbe time to recognize that your fine motor skills may bedeclining. Based on your yes answers, ask yourself:Are there ways I can improve on my driving habits? Yes NoShould I consider public transportation or an alternatemeans of transportation? Yes NoAm I physically in shape to drive? Yes NoAm I required to take medication that conflicts with myability to drive in a safe manner? Yes NoIf the answers to these questions still indicate a need forchange, there is help available. See the back panel of thisinformational guide for helpful you need to change your driving habits?Take this self-assessment test to find out!Keen Eyesight Is Essential for Safe Driving I need to head home before it gets dark. How many times have you heard or said this? Chancesare, if you know a senior driver or are one yourself this is a phrase that hits close to safe decisions behind thewheel relies heavily on our 90% of the decisionswe make while driving are based oninformation acquired through theeyes.

8 But as we age, our eyesightbegins to deteriorate and becomesprogressively amount of light we need todrive roughly doubles every 13 put this into perspective, a 60year old requires 10 times as muchlight as an 18 year old to drive, andwill take twice as long to adjust tochanges in light and darkness. Our ability to focus quickly fromnear to far also declines. An exampleof this would be looking up fromthe speedometer to the road DRIVERS need only abouttwo seconds to adjust their focus,whereas DRIVERS over 40 may takethree seconds or more. As we age,the amount of time needed tochange focus steadily increases. Thiscondition makes it more difficult tojudge distances and we age, the lenses of our eyesthicken, our pupils shrink, and weexperience a loss of muscle elasticityin the eye area. All of this contributesto an increased sensitivity to light andglare.

9 Sunlight or headlights from anoncoming vehicle may impede anolder driver s view. Just as we takelonger to focus, a 55-year-olddrivertakes eight times as long to recoverfrom glare than a 16-year-old driver. In addition, colors (especially red)become harder to see. An older drivermay take twice as long as a youngerdriver to observe the brake lights ofthe vehicle in front of eyesight concerns also affectour driving ability. Our peripheralvision narrows, our depth perceptiondeclines, and we may developcataracts, glaucoma or maculardegeneration. Depth perception iscrucial in judging how fast othercars are moving and approachingyou. Macular degeneration affectsthe central field of vision and usuallyresults in the inability to cope safely with a decline in vision,you must recognize your limitationsand be aware of unsafe driving following practices may help: Have regular eye exams someeye problems can be corrected,especially if caught early.

10 Avoid tinted windshields, and wear sunglasses when glare is a problem. If possible, avoid driving at night, during rush hours, and in inclement weather. Avoid wearing glasses thatrestrict your side vision. Avoid driving vehicles with large blind spots. Keep your headlights and windshield clean and properlymaintained. Turn your head frequently to compensate for diminishedperipheral vision. Look ahead to see trouble beforeyou reach it. If you require glasses, wear themwhile time may come when you or a loved one will decide to stopdriving. Here are some alternativesto assist with your transportationneeds, should that time arrive: Municipal buses. Vehicles driven by friends,family members, churchmembers, home healthaides, or volunteers. Transportation operated by senior citizen centers, hospitals, or retirementcommunities. Taxi and limousine more information, look on theback panel of this years ago, the City of RochesterHills began a project to improvestreet signs throughout its city.