Driving can be stressful at any age, but many motorists find that they lose confidence as they get older. Sound, vision and reaction times can be affected as you get older, which can make the roads daunting especially as there are many brash drivers on the road. So, what can you do to feel confident behind the wheel as you begin to age?
Car
First, you need to make sure that you are driving a car that you feel confident in. You need to keep the car in good condition with regular maintenance and make sure that you understand how all of the feature work and what all of the dashboard lights mean. Many people find it helpful to downsize to a smaller car when they get older so that they can drive a car with less power. You could borrow a smaller car from a friend or family member to see if this is a good option for you – just be sure to arrange temporary day insurance so that you can be insured for the day.
Practice
Like most things in life, practice makes perfect. If you are feeling anxious when driving, the best thing to do is to spend more time on the road. You can build confidence by sticking to quieter roads and by having a partner, family member or a friend in the passenger seat.
Health
As mentioned in the intro, you might find that age-related health can make driving harder as you get older. This is why you should keep on top of your health by getting regular vision and hearing tests and speaking to your doctor if you are worried about driving. Additionally, be sure to check any medication that you are on as some can affect your driving ability.
Driving Conditions
You should also consider the driving conditions and only drive when you feel safe. If it is foggy, wet or icy then you may want to get a taxi or take public transport if you have to make a journey. You could also look to reduce the amount of driving that you have to do, which you could do by inviting family over instead of going to them and getting your food shopping delivered.
Many seniors find that they start to lose confidence behind the wheel as they age, especially as there are already a lot of reckless drivers on the roads. Hopefully, the advice in this post will help you to develop confidence and continue being able to safely drive as you get older.
