**The following post is from my guest blogger, Natalie Langley, MSW. She is a Geriatric Care Research Analyst for SCANS (for more on SCANS, please see Eric Tinsley's blog by clicking here).**
As the winter weather is now upon us, a safety topic that is a concern for older adults is driving when the roads may be covered with snow or ice.
Adults 65 and older are in more car accidents per mile driven than those in nearly all other age groups. If you must drive in the winter weather, here are some tips to help keep you safe while on the road:
If you're a caregiver, you may also be concerned about the safety of a loved one and wonder if he or she should still be driving. For more about driving safety and warning signs for caregivers, please see my previous blog entry 'Is it time to take away the keys?' by clicking here.
As the winter weather is now upon us, a safety topic that is a concern for older adults is driving when the roads may be covered with snow or ice.
Adults 65 and older are in more car accidents per mile driven than those in nearly all other age groups. If you must drive in the winter weather, here are some tips to help keep you safe while on the road:
- Winterize your car before the bad weather hits (check the tires, windshield wipers, and antifreeze and change if necessary)
- Listen to the weather reports and check for winter weather advisories before getting on the road
- Avoid icy roads, overpasses or bridges if possible; look for another route
- Drive slow when roads are covered with snow or ice
- Take a cell phone with you when driving in bad weather and always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to arrive so they can call for help if you're late
- Keep an emergency kit in your car stocked with: a first aid kit, blankets, extra warm clothes, a windshield scraper, rock salt, a bag of sand or cat litter (to pour on ice or snow in case your wheels get stuck in the ice or snow), a shovel, a flashlight, water, and jumper/booster cables.
If you're a caregiver, you may also be concerned about the safety of a loved one and wonder if he or she should still be driving. For more about driving safety and warning signs for caregivers, please see my previous blog entry 'Is it time to take away the keys?' by clicking here.
Eric Tinsley
Alan Stanford 
Jean Bandos
Karen Kelsey
Natalie Crohn
George Slater
Powered by Compendium Blogware
Comments for Is it safe for seniors to drive in the winter weather?