At this point, you’ve probably heard every excuse to try and get you to quit driving. But, you may still feel that you’re alert enough to follow all traffic laws safely or you still have enough energy to drive. However, with advances in modern medicine, many are finding themselves more than capable of driving themselves around. Here are some of the most cited reasons to keep driving as an older driver.
Keep Your Independence
One of the most important things to many older people is their independence. While feelings of embarrassment or unwanted helplessness can often be crippling to some, others will seek solutions to continue living their everyday lives. In today’s landscape, it’s almost impossible to do anything without a car. Cars provide you a high degree of independence to go where you want at any time. When you keep driving when you’re older, you can keep a large chunk of your independence.
Enables You To Travel
As you get older, you often find yourself having plenty of time on your hands. Many turn to cooking, reading, or knitting. But a lot of older people turn to travel. Cars enable you to take trips to destinations that enrich your experience as an older person, making your golden years enjoyable and fun. However, it’s important to keep in mind your energy levels while traveling. If you do choose to travel, make sure you have everything you need, including water, medication, clothing, and any other things you may need to function daily.
You Can Visit Family
One of the worst parts about not having the freedom of mobility is that you can’t see your family as much as you might like. However, if your family lives close, you can see them whenever you want if you choose to continue driving. It can be extremely difficult for many older individuals to see their family members, especially considering the COVID 19 crisis. This is why it’s so important to ensure that you see your family members as often as you can while you still can.
It should be obvious by now that there are many reasons to keep driving as an older driver. Whether you’re seeking independence or just want to spend more time with your family, driving is necessary to accomplish these goals. Just make sure that you pay extra attention to speed and traffic laws. Disobeying these laws is a sure-fire way to lose the privilege of driving for the rest of your life—and you definitely don’t want that!