9 ways to be a more conscientious driver

Before the pandemic, a large number of accidents were related to car crashes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on average, more than 20 Americans age 65 and older were killed in daily traffic accidents in 2018. When was the last time you carefully analyzed your or your partner's driving style)? We present a few steps to consider. 1. Get in the car before you drive Are you sitting far enough away from the steering wheel? Are the mirrors positioned correctly? If you had the highest seat, would you see other vehicles better? You've probably been driving a certain way for years without recognizing bad habits. Sign up for a free virtual workshop on CarFit, an educational program created through a collaboration between AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). CarFit instructors will teach you how to take steps to improve visibility and vehicle control. 2. Maintain physical fitness Even if you're sitting down, driving can be a physically demanding activity. There's a reason race car drivers train like athletes, and we often feel exhausted after driving on crowded streets. "It's good to stay active, because that way we strengthen the mind-body connection," says Sarah Pearcy, a certified self-assessment facilitator for senior drivers. "It helps improve balance and endurance." It's important to keep up or even improve your exercise routine. As a general rule of thumb, 30 minutes a day of light cardiovascular or muscle resistance exercise is recommended. 3. Don't multi-task If you have been driving for many years, you may feel capable of doing this without paying much attention. For example, while we are driving, we are also on the phone, playing music, drinking coffee, adjusting the navigation system or talking intensely. These activities put you at risk of an accident, especially when reaction time and overall vision deteriorate. Older drivers look away eight seconds longer than younger drivers when adjusting or touching the navigation system, AAA researchers found. "There's no one who's very good at multitasking," says Jake Nelson, AAA's director of traffic safety and advocacy. "A person over 65 who is exposed to the same distractions will have a harder time controlling them." Eight people die every day in car crashes where one of the drivers was distracted, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Make a conscious effort to focus more on driving the car and less on everything else. 4. Get to know your car better Cars have undergone rapid technological advances in recent years. For example, they issue alerts if the driver leaves the lane and have sensors that make parking easier, among other safety features. But many older drivers, who have been driving for years, miss out on the technologies available in the car. To learn how the latest safety technologies work, attend AARP's free virtual workshop called "Smart DriverTEK" or visit Driver Safety to find a virtual course. 5. Take a quick look at safety features Pay more attention and take time to drive the car. "We're at greater risk if we just get in the car and get out in two-by-threes, without even taking a moment to adjust the seat and mirrors and make sure we're buckled in," says Elin Shold Davis of AOTA's Senior Driver Initiative. It's also recommended that drivers think carefully about the route they'll be taking before they leave. If you've ever taught a teenager to drive, you'll remember how carefully you made sure everything was in order. Do the same with yourself. 6. Keep your distance While it's important to keep up with traffic, it doesn't hurt to keep a little extra distance from other vehicles. Remember the three-second rule: pick a stationary object that is further down the road. Observe when the rear of the car in front of you passes this object; it should take at least three seconds for the front of your car to reach this point. 7. Let yourself be monitored In recent years, insurers have offered potential discounts to drivers who install a monitoring device in their car. Another useful aspect of these programs is that they can give you information about how you are driving. You will receive a report that tells you if you are driving too fast or too slow, if you are cornering too fast, or if you are pushing too hard on the gas or brake. This exercise can help you correct bad habits or negative behaviors before you get a ticket or cause an accident, says Penny Gusner, senior consumer analyst at Carinsurance.com. 8. Take a course to drive better Driving courses aren't just for teenagers. In courses like AARP Smart Driver (offered online in Spanish and English), you can learn current strategies for dealing with real-life situations. These courses will also give you tips on maintaining your car and teach you safe driving techniques. 9. Avoid pain When you drive, you may feel some discomfort, especially in your neck, shoulders or hands. And that, in turn, can make driving a car more difficult. If you're constantly in pain while driving, make an appointment with a driving therapist," says Shold Davis. Such a professional can help you identify equipment that can be incorporated into your car, as well as other possible adjustments. For example, if you have arthritis in your upper body and find it difficult to use the directional light, "you can move the light control," says Shold Davis. "There are solutions to these problems; you don't have to accept them and live with that pain."