Top 7 Tips To Prevent Car Accidents

Driving is freedom. Driving is self-reliance. But driving is also one of the most dangerous activities an older person does. Traffic accidents injure 139,000 and kill more than 7,600 Americans over age 65 each year, according to the National Safety Council. But there is no reason that you can’t be among the safest of the million drivers over 65 who are still on the road. Here are a few reminders that, can help you safely get where you are going.

1. Don’t Drive When You Are In Bad Mood
   
   The driver’s seat is hardly the best place for you to daydream. Don’t drive when you are upset, depressed, angry, drowsy, or not feeling well.
   
   
2. Take Frequent Breaks
   
   Back pain, neck pain, and arthritis all can contribute to fatigue, which can make you less safety conscious. When traveling, take frequent beaks to stretch and walk around.
   
   
3. Drive Medium-Size Cars
   
   Medium-sized cars may be better for older drivers. In smaller cars, the drivers sit lower and can’t see out of the vehicle as well. Power steering and brakes, automatic transmission, and adjustable seats and steering wheel can all cut driver fatigue.
   
   
4. Keep A Three-Second Safety Cushion
   
   keep a three-second safety cushion between you and the car in front of you. As you are driving along, notice a tree or other stationary object along the roadside. Once the rear of the car ahead passes the object, you should be able to count “one-thousand one, one-thousand two, one-thousand three” before reaching the same point.
   
   
5. Plan Your Route Before You Start Out
   
   You need to concentrate on driving rather than on navigating. If you are headed to someplace unfamiliar, ask a passenger to navigate for you.
   
   
6. Watch Out For Left Turns
   
   Seventeen percent of accidents among the older drivers involve left-hand turns, compared to 11 percent among younger drivers. To avoid a left turn at a traffic light, go to a block beyond your turn, then turn right around the block until you cross the intersection. For safety’s sake, you will be making three right turns instead of one left turn.
   
   
7. Check Your Mirrors Frequently
   
   There is a tendency to focus on what is going on ahead of us. Traffic, however, comes from all direction.

Raymond Lee is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is the Founder of Bodyfixes Group specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts." Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.