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Aging And Driving Ability In New Hampshire And Vermont

Many seniors experience a deterioration in their abilities to see, hear, and make decisions as they age. These changes can make it more difficult for them to drive safely, posing a risk to themselves and others on the road. Our personal injury attorneys in care about keeping you and your loved ones safe behind the wheel. If the worst happens, Rousseau & Ross is ready to help you navigate through insurance claims and related matter, but we would rather see you stay healthy and uninjured.

Questions about an aging relative’s driving abilities or injuries sustained in an accident with an aging driver? Call us today at 603-212-1176. We’re here to help.

How Aging May Affect Driving Ability

Though everyone ages differently, seniors often lose decision-making capabilities as they get older. Given that the average driver makes more than 20 decisions per mile, this can have a significant effect on a senior driver’s ability to merge into traffic, gauge distance between themselves and other drivers, and avoid accidents.

It is also common for seniors to experience diminishing eyesight as they get older. Because we receive around 90% of all our information through our eyes, this can be a significant disability. Then there is the problem of decreased hearing ability, which may hamper a senior’s ability to hear horns or emergency vehicle sirens.

Finally, some prescription medicines taken by elderly people make driving more dangerous by increasing the risk of slow reaction time or drowsiness. Add in lost fitness for an often-demanding activity, with numerous fast-moving hazards appearing on the road, not to mention changes in weather, and you have a dangerous situation brewing.

Luckily, those whose loved ones’ driving abilities are deteriorating can mitigate the risks. Talk with your senior driver early and often about the dangers associated with aging and loss of driving ability, and complete regular skill assessments to make sure that they can still drive safely.

If a senior driver in your family can no longer drive safely, you need to make other arrangements. Public transportation, carpooling and timed pick-ups can go a long way toward ensuring the safe roads everyone in New Hampshire and Vermont deserves.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident, it is important that you contact a lawyer immediately. The attorneys at Rousseau & Ross can help: Call 603-212-1176 or contact us online for a free consultation.