When it comes to vehicle safety, it can often be a battle between caregivers and seniors who don't want to give up their keys. A recent study indicates many seniors may overrate their driving ability, believing that they are more adept at handling the road than they actually are.
According to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, seniors tend to have an inflated sense of their driving skills. Of the approximately 350 senior drivers studied, 85 percent said they were "excellent" or "good" drivers. None of the seniors rated their performance as "poor."
Unfortunately, this was in contrast to the self-reported accidents revealed by the seniors. Approximately 25 percent had at least one accident in the previous five years, with some having multiple incidents on their record. Researchers found no correlation between the number of incidents and a senior's self rating - some drivers with four or more collisions still believed they were "good" or "excellent."
Those looking after a senior may need to perform vehicle maintenance on their loved one's vehicle, as elderly drivers can be known to forget such tasks. Be sure to have an expert give the vehicle a car tune up, brake service and check the tires for damage.