In your young age, you have to worry less about how well you can operate your vehicle. After all, your eyes are in good shape, your hearing should still be in working order, and you’re less at risk in general of challenges while driving.
However, as we get older, we may be confronted with more challenges behind the wheel. Because of our physical changes, we need to be more careful than ever. Take a look at some of the best driving tips for older drivers.
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Stay Active
Ideally, you should move your body as much as possible to get the maximum performance from it. Staying physically active means that you’ll be able to do simple maneuvers like check your blind spot or make the correct movements when parking. Rather than doing spurts of physical activity every now and then, you should incorporate movement into your daily life. You can’t expect to be a good driver if your body won’t respond when you tell it to move in certain ways.
Don’t Eat While Driving
We get it; everyone gets hungry from time to time when they’re on the road. However, as tempting as it might be to start snacking while on the way to your destination, it is not recommended.
Eating is a distraction and can not only put yourself in danger but also those with whom you’re sharing the road. If you must eat, pull over and have a few bites. Make sure that you’ve eaten everything you need before you get back on the road again.
Don’t Drink and Drive
It goes without saying that you shouldn’t drink and drive. However, it’s especially important to avoid drinking and driving when you are older. Your body is likely not as good as it once was at metabolizing alcohol.
Even though you may be sure that an innocent glass of wine won’t do anything to you, it’s not worth the risk. Even one small drink can alter your state of mind and cause you to lose control of your vehicle. If you have anything to drink, arrange a ride with someone else, or call a cab.
Mute Your Phone
Any time that you’re driving your vehicle, it’s important that you ignore your phone altogether. However, this is often easier said than done. If you can hear your phone making a noise, you may be tempted to check it while at a stop sign or red light.
The best way to eliminate the risk of falling into temptation is to mute your phone altogether. By eliminating the distraction altogether, you won’t have to worry about looking at your phone well behind the wheel. Believe it or not, any text or phone call can wait.
