SIUSLAW NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 | 9A
How seniors can safely stay behind the wheel
A greater sense of indepen-
dence is often cited as the reason
so many young people anxious-
ly await the day they earn their
drivers’ licenses. But the connec-
tion between driving and inde-
pendence is not lost on seniors,
either.
Aging can take its toll on driv-
ers, prompting such drivers’ fam-
ilies to feel as if their loved ones’
ability to safely operate motor
vehicles has been compromised.
However, many seniors can still
safely operate motor vehicles, and
those who do can take steps to
ensure they’re as safe as possible
behind the wheel.
• Avoid driving on days when
aches and pains are strong. Aches
and pains are common side ef-
fects of aging, and seniors know
that some days are better than
others. Seniors’ ability to control
their vehicles may be compro-
mised on days when stiffness,
aches or pains
seem partic-
ularly strong,
so it’s best to
avoid driving
during these
times. Fatigue
may set in on
days
when
aches
and
pains require
extra effort to
perform rel-
atively sim-
ple tasks, and
drivers of all
ages should avoid driving while
tired.
• Don’t skip medical checkups.
Few seniors may look forward to
their medical checkups, but vis-
its to the doctor can reveal issues
that can help seniors be safer on
the road. Schedule routine vision
exams so eyeglass prescriptions
are always up-to-date. In addi-
tion, seniors should discuss hear-
ing screenings with their physi-
cians so they can ensure they can
always hear sirens and other mo-
torists while on the road. Great
strides have been made in regard
to helping people with fading
hearing hear better, and seniors
would be wise to take advantage
of such advancements, which in-
Develop a vehicle maintenance schedule
The sudden expense of
vehicle repairs can throw
monthly budgets into disar-
ray. Maintaining a routine
service schedule is one way
for drivers to keep repair
costs down.
The online automotive
resources
Edmunds.com
says many car owners do
not adequately prepare for
scheduled maintenance, and
may not give maintenance a
thought until it’s too late. The
first step drivers take upon
purchasing a new or pre-
owned vehicle should be to
familiarize themselves with
the vehicle’s owner’s manual,
which is filled with valuable
information and likely in-
cludes maintenance interval
recommendations.
Next, drivers should learn
about their vehicle, which is
particularly relevant when
buying a preowned vehicle.
Getting to know how the
car or truck rides, as well as
any sounds it may make, can
provide drivers with a solid
foundation they can then use
to keep their cars running
strong.
Routine service typical-
ly includes tire rotation, oil
changes and topping off of
fluids. So just how long be-
tween service appointments
can a car go? Here are some
generalized estimates.
• Oil change: Drivers
should err on the side of cau-
tion if they do a lot of stop-
and-go driving and short
trips. Other drivers may
want to invest in vehicles that
have oil change maintenance
minders built in. A light or
countdown will come on the
dashboard, indicating when
the oil has reached the end of
its usefulness.
• Tire rotation: Rotating
tires helps prolong the life of
the tires and alleviates un-
even tread and wear. During
the rotation, each tire is re-
moved and relocated to a
different position to ensure
that all the tires will wear
evenly. Michelin Tires states
that tires should be rotated
around every six months,
or between 6,000 and 8,000
miles.
• Vehicle fluids: Your best
bet is to see what the man-
ufacturer recommends in
regard to fluids such as trans-
mission fluid, differential
oil, brake fluids, coolant, etc.
Some transmissions need
regular maintenance, while
others can go 150,000 miles
between changes, according
to the vehicle information
site The Drive.
Coolant typically can last
100,000 miles. For these
types of changes, it may be
best to go to a mechanic or
service center familiar with
your make and model rather
than a quick-lube center, as
knowing when to drain and
refill can be more complicat-
ed.
Service schedules can be
designed to adhere to manu-
facturers’ recommendations
and drivers’ personal prefer-
ences.
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Serving Your Auto Needs Since 1945
clude hearing
aids that can
be connect-
ed to smart-
phones.
• Familiar-
ize yourself
with medica-
tion side ef-
fects. Wheth-
er they do so
temporarily
or
perma-
nently, many
seniors take
medications,
and every medication comes with
side effects. When filling a new
prescription, carefully read the
dosage and description label to
ensure that it’s safe to drive while
taking the medicine. Make note
of how you feel when taking a
new prescription, avoiding driv-
ing if the medication makes you
feel fatigued or drowsy or affects
your motor functions. If the side
effects of a new prescription are
making it difficult to safely op-
erate a vehicle, discuss potential
alternatives with your physician.
• Avoid driving in certain con-
ditions. Driving in inclement
weather, during rush hour and
at night makes many drivers un-
comfortable, regardless of their
age. But such conditions can be
especially dangerous for aging
drivers whose vision and reac-
tion times might be fading. Se-
niors who avoid driving in harsh
conditions and heavy traffic may
be more comfortable behind the
wheel, thereby reducing their risk
of accident or injury.
Seniors need not give up their
drivers’ licenses at the first signs
of aging. But adjusting certain
behaviors and exercising ex-
tra caution can help these men
and women stay safe behind the
wheel.
Prepare for an out-of-town breakdown
Though no one wants to
think about the possibility of
a vehicle breakdown while
out of town, such things do
happen. How prepared driv-
ers are can go a long way
toward determining how
affected they will be if this
happens.
• Get a checkup before
skipping town. Many drivers
may overlook the importance
of vehicle checkups before de-
parting on weekend getaways
or longer trips. A full check-
up can uncover any problems
that might derail a trip.
• Examine your options in
regard to emergency roadside
assistance. Insurance provid-
ers typically offer emergency
roadside assistance to policy
holders for a nominal fee, and
memberships in clubs such as
AAA are inexpensive.
Drivers should note that
out-of-town repairs may re-
quire costly overnight shipping
of parts so travelers can get
back on the road as quickly as
possible. Roadside assistance
offered through an insurance
company or motor club may
include tow trucks free of
charge up to a certain num-
ber of miles, allowing travelers
to get their cars back home
without breaking the bank.
• Inspect tires, including
your spare. Many a road trip
has been derailed or thrown
off schedule due to a flat tire
or tires. Before departing,
check the condition of your
existing tires, including the
spare, as well as the air pres-
sure in each one.
Many vehicle manufac-
turers recommend replacing
tires at six years, regardless
of tread wear. Tires that get
heavy usage should be re-
placed even more frequently.
To determine if tread wear
is something to worry about,
Firestone recommends the
penny test, which involves
placing a penny head first
into several tread grooves
across the tire. If the top of
Abraham Lincoln’s head is
always visible, then your tires
are shallow and worn and
need to be replaced. But if
part of Lincoln’s head is al-
ways covered, your tires can
probably withstand the trip.
• Bring along some ba-
sic tools. Pack some basic
tools, such as screw drivers,
wrenches, pliers, a trolley
jack, a battery charger and, of
course, duct tape, which may
help you temporarily solve
some issues on your own.
This is especially important
for drivers who intend to visit
remote locations where mo-
bile phone networks may be
inaccessible and the nearest
tow truck might be far away.
Hone your tire-changing
skills before hitting the road
and make sure tools are still
capable of performing the
kind of basic maintenance
that might help your vehicle
safely return to civilization.
Vehicle breakdowns hap-
pen, even while on vacation.
Some advance preparation
can help drivers avert out-of-
town disasters.
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