As a person ages, he or she may experience various changes that can impact physical capabilities. One of the things that a person may find difficult as he or she gets older is safe driving. Elderly drivers may face an increased chance of involvement in a car accident due to various limitations. In order to bring awareness to this issue, The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. has named the first week of December as Older Driver Safety Awareness Week.
Older drivers who can no longer safely operate a vehicle or those who cannot meet the physical demands of driving pose a risk to themselves and others on the road. It is important for Georgia families to know when their loved ones should no longer be driving or need help to drive safely. Increased awareness of elderly driver safety may reduce accidents and make the roads safer for you and your family.
Dealing with a difficult issue
It is not easy to address the issue of physical limitations and how long a person should drive before taking away his or her keys. In fact, you may have had this difficult conversation with one of your loved ones. Older Driver Safety Awareness Week hopes to bring awareness to these difficulties and help individuals and families navigate the following issues:
- Planning for the future when a family member can no longer drive or needs help with certain physical issues in order to continue driving
- Talking with elderly family members about safe driving and when to stop driving independently
- Working with occupational therapists in order to know when a person needs help or should stop driving altogether
- Exploring options for alternative transportation when a person is no longer able to safely drive
When a person is unable to drive due to physical or cognitive reasons, it may be up to the family or other parties to ensure that person does not unnecessarily endanger others.
An increased chance of an accident
When an elderly driver or a person who should not be driving causes an accident, a victim may be unsure of what he or she should do next. It is possible the injured parties could have grounds to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim, but it is beneficial to first seek a case evaluation. No matter who or what caused your accident, you are entitled to an explanation of the legal options available to you.