Road safety is important at every age because responsible driving keeps everyone on the road safe. We know that road safety is all about precautions and that defensive driving can positively impact everyone getting home safe whether it’s the driver or passengers in another vehicle. In fact, road safety is a shared community responsibility, with more than 38,000 people dying annually in the US from road fatalities.
In the most recent Global Study on Road Safety, the World Health Organisation reported that by 2030 they expect road mortality to increase to be the 5th leading cause of death globally. To assist you with your safety, besides driving safely, you can focus on proactive, manageable steps that you can take both before and once you’re in the car.
For older people, there isn’t a specific age where you’re no longer safe or able to drive yet just as prevention rather than cure is a health policy, the same can be applied to road safety. Moreover, according to Arrive Alive, “Rigid age boundaries do not take into consideration the fact that ageing is a process that does not start at the same age for each and every individual, nor does it progress at the same pace.” What you can do to empower yourself and the people around you is to know the signs to look out for as well as ways to support friends and family to be safe on the road.
To assist you in this area, this infographic from Hussey Fraser Solicitors is focused on Road Safety For Older Drivers. In the graphic, you’ll find tips, statistics and conversational prompts that you can use as you continue to hit the road. You might consider it your road map to optimising safety with relaxed talking points for friends in the same age group and pointers about technology that can help enhance your car’s safety rating features. It might also be helpful if you have a family member you’re concerned about with questions you can go through with them to check in about their driving capacity.
What’s essential to remember is that road safety is always a work in progress — just because you’re looking for ways to improve doesn’t mean you need to stop driving. Staying informed is a great place to start on the safety journey for yourself and everyone else on the road.
