Aging and Driving Ability in Vermont

Many seniors experience a deterioration in their abilities to see, hear, and make decisions as they age. These changes can make it more difficult for them to drive safely, posing a risk to themselves and others on the road.

Though everyone ages differently, it is common for seniors to lose decision-making capabilities as they get older. Given that the average driver makes more than twenty decisions per mile, this can have a significant effect on a senior driver's ability to merge into traffic, gauge distance between themselves and other drivers, and avoid accidents.

It is also common for seniors to experience diminishing eyesight as they get older. Because we receive around 90 percent of all our information through our eyes, this can be a significant disability. There is also the problem of decreased hearing ability, which may hamper a senior's ability to hear horns or emergency vehicle sirens.

Finally, some prescription medicines taken by elderly people make driving more dangerous by increasing the risk of slow reaction time or drowsiness. Add in lost fitness for a oftentimes-demanding activity, numerous fast-moving hazards appearing on the road, plus changes in weather, and you have a dangerous situation brewing.

Luckily, those whose loved ones' driving abilities are deteriorating can mitigate the risks. Talk with your senior driver early and often about the dangers associated with aging and loss of driving ability, and complete regular skill assessments to make sure that they can still drive safely.

If a senior driver in your family can no longer drive safely, you need to make other arrangements. Public transportation, carpooling, and timed pick-ups can go a long way toward ensuring the safe roads everyone in Vermont deserves.

If you or a loved one, have been injured in a Vermont automobile accident, it is important that you contact a lawyer immediately. A Vermont car accident attorney can help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries, missed work, or emotional suffering.

Call the experienced Vermont car accident attorneys at Van Dorn and Curtiss today to learn more about car accident personal injury cases. We have offices in Concord and Orford, NH, and we can always be contacted toll-free at (877) 611-9622.