Not every older driver is a risky driver; however, with Father Time being undefeated, some degree of inevitable decline comes for us all.
As we age, new risk factors come up that we should all be aware of for both ourselves and our loved ones, which extend far beyond auto insurance concerns.
Let’s discuss some of the biggest risk factors for older drivers, which generally fall into three categories:
- health
- cognitive/behavioural
- environmental/vehicle
HEALTH-RELATED RISK FACTORS FOR OLDER DRIVERS
RISK FACTOR 1: Declining vision (difficulty with night driving, glare, reduced peripheral vision) and hearing loss (harder to detect sirens, horns, or approaching vehicles).
HOW TO MITIGATE: Regular vision and hearing checks, updating glasses, treating cataracts, and using hearing aids if needed.
RISK FACTOR 2: Slower reaction time due to an aging nervous system.
HOW TO MITIGATE: Staying physically active can help maintain or improve flexibility, reaction time, and strength for steering/braking.
RISK FACTOR 3: Medical conditions that are most common among older individuals (e.g., dementia, stroke, Parkinson’s, diabetes complications, arthritis)
HOW TO MITIGATE: Managing medical conditions (e.g., proper diabetes control, treatment for sleep apnea).
RISK FACTOR 4: Medication side effects such as drowsiness, confusion, blurred vision and dizziness.
HOW TO MITIGATE: Medication reviews with a doctor/pharmacist to reduce side effects.
COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIOURAL RISK FACTORS
RISK FACTOR 1: Reduced attention and multitasking ability, making it harder to process multiple hazards at once.
HOW TO MITIGATE: Driving slower and more cautiously, when appropriate. This is good advice for us all, no matter what age!
RISK FACTOR 2: Memory issues leading to forgetting routes, traffic rules, or recent instructions and overconfidence or reluctance to give up driving even when ability is declining.
HOW TO MITIGATE: Family and peer support to help recognize and adjust to new limitations.
RISK FACTOR 3: Difficulty judging speed and distance, especially when turning across traffic at intersections (which is one of the most common types of accidents involving older adults).
HOW TO MITIGATE: Leaving more space between vehicles and allowing extra time for manoeuvres. Again, this is good advice for any driver of any age.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND VEHICLE-RELATED RISK FACTORS
RISK FACTOR 1: Dealing with things like headlight glare, low visibility and reduced traction while night driving and driving in bad weather.
HOW TO MITIGATE: Self-regulate by choosing to avoid night driving, busiest traffic times like rush hour, and bad weather.
RISK FACTOR 2: Dealing with complex traffic situations such as busy intersections, roundabouts, left turns and construction zones.
HOW TO MITIGATE: Plan driving routes with fewer left turns and complex intersections.
RISK FACTOR 3: Modern vehicles can be larger and have more complex technology, making it difficult for older drivers to adapt to new controls or distractions.
HOW TO MITIGATE: Driving vehicles with safety features like lane departure warnings, blind-spot monitoring, backup cameras, and automatic emergency braking. Adjusting vehicle ergonomics with proper seat and mirror positions and using seat cushions for better visibility.
It’s also wise for older drivers to drive the same car consistently rather than switching often so they’re more familiar with its controls and features.
CAR ACCIDENTS INVOLVING OLDER DRIVERS OFTEN CONSIST OF:
Left-hand turns at intersections.
Failing to yield the right-of-way.
Multi-vehicle crashes at intersections (rather than single-vehicle run-off-road crashes that are more common in younger drivers).
Erie Mutual Insurance proudly serves the commercial insurance, farm insurance, home insurance and auto insurance needs of members throughout Southern Ontario including Haldimand, Niagara and Hamilton.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have about this or any other topic related to your insurance.
