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Show July 2003 Senior Section Page 17 Safety tips for families of senior drivers With the recent devastating crash involving an 86-year old man in Santa Monica bringing increased attention to the unique needs of senior drivers, AAA Utah is offering advice for families trying to determine if their loved ones are safe behind the wheel. "It is important to realize that mobility for the senior members of our communities affects everyone. The crashes involve not only the driver, but everyone else in the community," communi-ty," said AAA Utah spokeswoman spokes-woman Rolayne Fairclough. "We have a responsibility to keep our aging population safe a responsibility that will ultimately help all of as we age." People over 65 are the fastest-growing segment of the population in the United States. By 2020, there will be more than 40 million licensed drivers age 65 and older. Senior crash fatality rates, have climbed while overall fatality rates for all ages combined com-bined have remained stable since 1991. Although they are more likely to wear their seat-belts, seat-belts, less likely to drink and drive and less likely to speed, senior drivers are more likely to be hurt in a car crash. They have the highest crash death rate per mile of everyone except teenagers. Senior drivers driv-ers are over-represented in intersection crashes, and senior sen-ior pedestrians are up to five times more likely to die in these crashes than any other age group. As people age, their bodies and minds go through several changes. Vision and hearing tend to diminish and muscles and bones become weaker. Mentally, several other changes may also occur that tend to slow down reaction time and the ability to focus attention on many tasks at the same time. All of the attributes and abilities of the mind and body are integral to being able to operate a vehicle safely. Families of seniors need to remember than giving up driving driv-ing privileges can be a traumatic trau-matic and highly disruptive experience. Offering support and being prepared with transportation trans-portation alternatives is key to making the transition success ful. Scolding or confronting an older driver will likely only alienate them. Try to assess the driver's behind-the-wheel skills as objectively as you can. Then, encourage him or her to take a self-assessment test and visit a medical professional for a vision and driving fitness checkup. More information and a 15-step self-assessment test can be found at www.seniordrivers.org. In Utah, a vision test is required for everyone 65 and older to renew a driver license. Older drivers find they are eligible eli-gible for a discount on their auto insurance by taking a DMV-approved course for mature drivers. More information informa-tion on these courses can be found at www.aarp.org55alive. Wftea trttcptiir to threes an elder driver's beMnd41rT7l:cd cldlb, Lsro cro examples of t " v .... ft 'ft V question to ficop inunnar Doe3 tha iTrivcr ret lost or disoriented, even in . familiar $lzzzJ Do other drivers honk or pass frequently, even when traffic is moving slowly? Does the driver weave or drift into other lanes without signaling? Has the driver been issued two or more tickets or warning or had two "near "misses" in the past two years? Does the driver have difficulty working the pedals. , Does the driver have trouble seeing other vehi cles or pedestrians, especially at night? Does the driver seem to ignore or "miss" stop signs and other traffic signals? Does the driver neglect to buckle their seat belt? Does the driver take medication that causes drowsiness or slows reaction time? r-Crestvhiv Care Center INVITES YOU TO COME SEE OUR Heautifut 9czu Lookl Caslitv Can - Ulllzi Karsl&i t lesaa 24 lenrKll Coverage li-lonenOTTRsrgpy tally Staffed Nam state-ef-tise-art rabaa eaaloment KowFurnltare New Bads t Matrasses Isme-Uke atmosaiiere with a tones af class wtt Aremat&eramr. leiilcara Medicaid Private losalcsaJUzhelsters EeaatySaloi Jetted TaUKfaterfafl Beautiful Hfltoi ftcceitimadatlons 'IcaottMCeartyards V (J ;J .l-f'fiVj Ik-' yj i :. p i'i " -lil.,V: |