Older Drivers: Don't Get Caught in the Dark

The end of daylight saving time on Nov. 1, 2009 doesn't just mean you're getting an extra hour of sleep. Setting clocks back one hour also means an extra hour of night driving, which can be problematic for everyone, and particularly for older drivers.

Even on familiar roads, motorists should use caution and watch for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists who will be less visible, especially during the first week of the time change. AARP urges all drivers to consider the link between night visibility and safe driving. If you have trouble seeing well at night, get your vision checked, and consider taking a driver safety course to learn how to compensate in dark conditions.

To focus attention on roadway safety, AARP is proclaiming November 2009 Driver Safety Month. Since folks will soon be driving more at night, AARP offers the following tips:

• See and be seen. Get your headlights checked, and while driving, turn them on one hour before sunset and keep them on one hour after sunrise to ensure maximum visibility.

• Stay alert on the road. With reduced visibility, it's important to lower your speed, pay extra attention, and maintain a three-second following distance.
• Recognize and prevent drowsiness. The change in time can throw off our internal clocks and cause drowsiness, so run errands in the morning when you are fresher and more alert.
• Avoid sun glare. You may need to adjust to early morning or late afternoon sun glare, which can cause reflections off car windows and hoods and decrease your visibility.

For more helpful information and coaching, visit the AARP Driver Safety Program online. Now celebrating its 30th Anniversary, the program has given its refresher courses to more than 12 million people nationwide. The no-test courses update drivers' skills and knowledge of relevant laws, and the training includes strategies to help motorists compensate for age-related changes that affect driving ability.

Driver safety courses also include a section on assessing driving abilities. Since November is  National Caregiver Month, too, now may be a good time to have a family conversation with your loved ones about driving. Having this talk, you can help ensure the safety of your loved one—and that other drivers and pedestrians—on the road.

Depending on insurance providers and state regulations, graduates of the AARP Driver Safety Program courses (both the classroom and online versions) may be eligible to receive discounts on their auto-insurance premiums. All participants should check with their insurers for further details.

For information on local courses, please call, toll-free, 888-227-7669, or visit us at www.aarp.org/drive. For more information about AARP's online course, please visit www.aarp.org/drive/online.