Team Fit-for-Driving: Does Your Car Fit You?

Team Fit-for-Driving No. 23: Senior Adult Traffic Safety and Alcohol

Team Fit-for-Driving: Tire Tread Safety!

Fit-For-Driving No. 22: Insurance Discounts

Are senior drivers considered high risk? Not according to the state of Ohio which lists high risk drivers as those who have a poor driving record and those who are uninsurable for 30 days (Kasich, 2011). Senior drivers are historically good drivers who take responsibility for their health and well-being and drive safely. For example, senior drivers seek exercise classes and therapy for sensory losses and limited range of motion issues, and they talk to their doctors and pharmacy about driving and their prescription drug usage.  According to Governor Kasich (2011) most insurance companies offer discounts to seniors if they meet this criteria:

Be between the ages of 60 & 70 and pass an accident prevention course

• Provide the insurance company with a certificate proving you have passed the course

• Have a satisfactory driving record for the previous three years

 

Team Fit-for-Driving No. 21: Drowsy Driving

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conservatively estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year. This results in an estimated 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and $12.5 billion in monetary losses. These figures may be the tip of the iceberg, since currently it is difficult to attribute crashes to sleepiness.

• There is no test to determine sleepiness as there is for intoxication, i.e. a “Breathalyzer”.
• State reporting practices are inconsistent. There is little or no police training in identifying drowsiness as a crash factor. Every state currently addresses fatigue and/or sleepiness in some way in their crash report forms. However, the codes are inconsistent and two states (Missouri and Wisconsin) do not have specific codes for fatigue and/or fell asleep.
• Self-reporting is unreliable.
• Drowsiness/fatigue may play a role in crashes attributed to other causes such as alcohol. About one million such crashes annually are thought to be produced by driver inattention/lapses.
• According to data from Australia, England, Finland, and other European nations, all of whom have more consistent crash reporting procedures than the U.S., drowsy driving represents 10 to 30 percent of all crashes.

Who is at risk?

Sleep related crashes are most common in young people, especially men, adults with children and shift workers. According to the NSF’s 2002 poll:

• Adults between 18-29 are much more likely to drive while drowsy compared to other age groups (71% vs. 30-64, 52% vs. 65+, 19%).
• Men are more likely than women to drive while drowsy (56% vs. 45%) and are almost twice as likely as women to fall asleep while driving (22% vs. 12%).
• Adults with children in the household are more likely to drive drowsy than those without children (59% vs. 45%).
• Shift workers are more likely than those who work a regular daytime schedule to drive to or from work drowsy at least a few days a month (36% vs. 25%).
• Sleep deprivation increases the risk of a sleep-related crash; the less people sleep, the greater the risk.
  According to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, people who sleep six to seven hours a night are twice as likely to be involved in such a crash as those sleeping 8 hours or more, while people sleeping less than 5 hours increased their risk four to five times.
• A study by researchers in Australia showed that being awake for 18 hours produced an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .05, and .10 after 24 hours; .08 is considered legally drunk.
  Other research indicates commercial drivers and people with undiagnosed sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and acute insomnia are also at greater risk for fall asleep crashes.

Reference:

Drowsy Driving.org

Fit-For-Driving: 102 Year old Driver

Team Fit-for-Driving No. 19: The 3 Second Rule

In good weather, the 3 second rule is a tool to determine if you are following another vehicle too closely. To determine the right following distance, select a fixed object on the road ahead and when the vehicle ahead of you passes that object slowly count "one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand." If you reach the same object before you are finished counting you are following too close. Of course, this rule changes with inclement weather, heavy traffic, accidents and road repair, and unsafe conditions.

Team Fit-for-Driving No. 18: Autumn Driving

Autumn driving means that drivers will come into contact with blowing leaves, wet leaves, and even piles of leaves at the side of the road.  According to experts, a single layer of leaves on the pavement can cause dangerous driving conditions because they may hide potholes or other dangers, and they may be slippery as well. Preparing for autumn driving and these hazardous driving situations will require drivers to check their tires, brakes, and wiper blades for safety.  

Team Fit-for-Driving No. 17: Drought and Your Car

Some areas of the country are moving to non-essential drought orders for conservation of water. This means that washing your car using public water sources may be restricted. However, keeping your mirrors, headlights, parking and brake lights, and windows clean are still important for safety. Finding alternative ways to keep these areas free from debris is essential. Interestingly, there are eco-friendly and waterless car products on the market that may be appropriate depending on your vehicle’s manufacture recommendations.  In addition, and as an emotional uplift, cleaning the inside of the car can sometimes help you tolerate those longer time periods between exterior car wash times.

Fit-for-Driving No.15: Air Quality Forcasts

During the summer months you may hear air quality forecasts that indicate that the air pollution index is high and that certain actions are advisable. The EPA is a great resource for advice, and it is an area to discover the focus of ongoing research in the area of air pollution control.  Every adult can contribute to this effort by keeping their vehicles tuned and properly maintained. In addition, carpooling, using public transportation, and even consolidating trips can make a difference in our future air quality forecasts.

Fit-for-Driving No. 14: Road Glare

Bright vehicle headlights can create even more glare for drivers than previous lighting due to their brightness and positioning. A couple of hints provided by researchers might help with this issue. Simple suggestions such as keeping the windshield clean while using anti-glare products, and using anti-glare devices commonly built into the rear-view mirror, will provide some relief for nighttime road glare while driving. New and emerging patents for nighttime glare are portable anti-glare screens, advanced driver assistance systems, anti-reflective coatings for lenses, and anti-glare panels with LED light panels that are positioned above the driver’s seat. With headlamp heights reaching as high as 54 inches and as low as 24 inches, and the intensity of light regulated be bright enough to reveal vehicles and persons at a distance of 200 feet, road glare at nighttime will continue to be an issue.

Fit-for-Driving No. 13: Adaptation

When life events or the aging process interfere with the skills necessary to drive safely, it is vital that you seek medical consultation with your physician or therapist. The reason this is necessary is that there are many products on the market that can help you drive safely and with greater ease. For example, products such as seat adaptation, pedal adaptation, and steering adaptation are available for persons who are height challenged, have strength issues, or reduced feeling in their extremities. In addition, adaptive devices such as accelerator rings can be mounted on the steering wheel for individuals with impaired or no leg function. These are just a few samples of equipment that are available to help you find solutions for your mobility issues. Consulting you health care professional is a fantastic way to find out which method of adaptation is right for you.

Fit-for-Driving No. 12: Automaticity

Avoid being preoccupied or distracted when you drive as it taxes the brain's resources for giving accurate communication and focus to the task at hand. Think back at a time when you were on autopilot and multitasking at the same time (automaticity), and perhaps touched something sharp or hot because you were distracted or multitasking. The same inattention can occur when you try to multitask while driving. Researchers have found that driving is a more complex task than we realize and that our full attention is needed for the complexities, precision needs, and responsibilities of driving. Interestingly, these same researchers tested the reflexes of a group of test subjects while multitasking, who were both sober and legally drunk, and they found that the persons who were sober and multitasking had the same reduced reflexes as someone who was legally drunk doing the same grouping of tasks. The tests revealed that just like those individually who were legally drunk, the persons tested while multitasking, and who were sober, were missing large amounts of peripheral vision information, which affected their reflexes and decision-making.

Fit-for-Driving No. 12: Staying Calm

Some driving experiences may leave you edgy or filled with raw emotions, but it is essential to stay calm, cool, and collected. Two beliefs that might be good to add to your driving philosophy are everyone has a right to the road, and hurrying will only make the trip seem longer (Berardelli). Basically this means that driving is a privilege and acquiring a servant heart while driving will help you to be mindful of safety and the needs of others. C. Parkinson developed Parkinson's Law that states "work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion." Therefore, plan for enough time for your commute and take your core values with you when you travel.

Fit-for-Driving No. 10: Finding the Right Mechanic

Winter road safety involves taking care of your vehicle and finding the right mechanic. According to Consumer Guide (2009) it is important to find a mechanic that specializes in your car's make and model and to look for certification of their skills and abilities such as the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Before selecting a mechanic, check with friends, the BBB, and other professionals to find what is being said or documented concerning their personal mechanic's customer service, quality of work, and ethical standards. This may help you make the right selection concerning finding the right mechanic for the repairs and preventative maintenance of your vehicle. In addition, make it a point to know your car's warranty information to make sure that you don't over pay for services and that you perform the recommended preventative maintenance for your vehicle in a timely manner.

Fit-for-Driving: Parking Lot Safety Tips for the Holidays

It is essential to be mindful when parking during the holidays and to use care when maneuvering parking lots. Here are some helpful tips:

• Wear your seat belt
• Don’t cut diagonally across the parking lot
• Watch out for waiting cars in parking lots
• Parking in less congested areas
• Park in well-lit areas
• Avoid parking between high profile vehicles that might block your view when entering or exiting the parking space
• Roll up your windows and lock your car when exiting the car
• Don’t leave valuables and/or packages visible to people walking by
• Take time to look around you for environmental cues to remind you of where you have parked
• Ask for an escort back to your car if you are unsure of your safety
• Put your packages in the truck before leaving the parking lot and stopping at another shopping center
• Make sure that your vehicle insurance coverage is up to date

According to statistics, the most dangerous parking lots during the holidays are post offices!

Fit-for-Driving No 8: Fitness and Driving

It takes a certain level of fitness to drive a car safely, and taking an inventory of your abilities is a good idea. In order to be proactive and stay is good shape for driving you may want to enroll in classes to keep you Fit-for-Driving. Getting in and out of the car and turning to see to the side and behind you as you maneuver as needed requires muscle tone, strength, and flexibility. In addition, quick reflexes are important for sudden response to other drivers on the road and unexpected events. When you are researching which classes to enroll in to improve your fitness for driving be sure to include stretching, strengthening, and classes that require coordination and quick reflexes so that you truly remain Fit-for-Driving.

Fit-for-Driving No. 6: Choose Your Roads Wisely

Facts about 65 mph 65 mph = 95 feet per second or nearly a football field every three seconds on the open road 65 mph = Complete stopping distance of about 285 feet or about 16 car lengths 65 mph = Increased fuel consumption by 20% when compared to 55 mph

Fit-for-Driving No 5: The Right-of-Way

Driving defensively may mean giving away the right-of-way. The law does not necessarily give anyone the right-of-way it only informs us of who must yield and when. Other drivers may not follow the laws for yielding the right-of-way or even the rules of the road. In order to avoid a collision you may need to drive defensively by letting the other driver have the right-of-way, even though; the right-of-way may actually belong to you.

Team Fit-For-Driving No 4: Awareness!

Awareness makes us smarter and safer drivers! Being aware of the telltale signs of age-related signals that tell us to modify our driving behaviors is the first step. For example, some age-related signs of slowing down may be that you have difficulty distinguishing between colors or miss an occasional sign or signal. It may be that you feel that it is more difficult to judge gaps in traffic, or you may feel that other drivers are just too aggressive or in too big of a rush. You may also find it difficult to make sharp turns or come to a quick stop. There are many age-related signs of slowing down that may occur when driving, and these signals may be cause for concern. While you can be your own worst critic concerning your driving habits and behaviors, various evaluations by professionals can help you decide if you need adaptive equipment for driving, self-regulation concerning driving, or compensating practices and strategies to reduce the difficulty or exposure to unsafe driving situations.