No matter how careful or conscientious you are, you can never be too vigilant when it comes to driving. It’s just a fact of nature that as you age, your reflexes may slow down and your ability to respond to urgent matters may diminish. It’s not your fault, but it is your responsibility to make sure you do all you can to stay safe on the road- both for yourself, your passengers and other drivers and pedestrians. For some basic and sound advice, put on your seatbelt and click here. And if you’re feeling a bit wobbly or in need of some advice to adapt to changed driving characteristics, don’t let pride get in your way- get some expert instruction by seeking out help here.

Since the majority of car buyers these days are over age 54, it’s valuable to understand new car options that can add to the safe operation of your car as an older driver. A recent post in Next Avenue outlined several options you should seek out or consider when purchasing a new car, including alerts that discern lane drifting, blind spot detectors and automatic braking to prevent crashes. These features specifically address lapses that may affect older drivers such as slower response times or fatigue. And if you find these new technology options confusing, seek out a delivery specialist at the dealer before you take ownership of the car. And speaking of the characteristics of senior drivers, new research out of Australia confirms a common-sense approach to a familiar senior eye affliction: Getting that needed cataract surgery can make you a much safer driver.

Finally, in addition to car-sharing services that target older adults who have given up driving, many have suggested that automated driverless cars are the solution to the “senior driving problem.” But the reality of such a solution is many years away and perhaps will never materialize if current development trends continue to ignore the actual input of senior drivers. A recent article in Wired makes clear we’re currently in a transitional phase when it comes to creating driverless cars. Humans are still essential for operating such vehicles and yet older adults are not being brought in to the process of developing and perfecting these cars. So unless and until this research agenda opens up to involve senior drivers, it’s essential we continue to ensure that older drivers are as safe and supported as possible.