Several months ago I wrote
of my experience with the GPS
device given to me by by my wife, I think I have also jotted
several stories about
other driving and automobile related subjects most of which, I
hope, were interesting, and I also hope, perhaps amusing.
However in the past year, after
an serious and
debilitating illness and then, just
this past July, after passing my 82nd. birthday, I started
seriously thinking of whether or not, I should consider the
possibility that my driving skills were getting so impaired that
I should stop driving. After thinking of it a lot over the last
few months, I realized that I had been thinking of it for
several years.
Now, unlike in the past, I am perfectly content
to drive at a sedate 65 miles per hour on the Interstate! It
finally has sunk in to my skull that a few MPH slower driving
only means a few minutes longer driving time. After a period in
which I backed into a number of objects such as posts and poles,
other autos and such stuff, I realized I just was not turning my
head enough to see what was behind me. There is also a lot of
difference between just looking in the rearview mirrors and
actually seeing and registering the objects there! Often my
wife
would exclaim when I moved too far toward the
side of the road and the roar of the "rumble strip" filled the
car!
I like to drive, I have driven
a lot, I don't think ever too recklessly but always at or above
the speed limit. I have been a good driver, my reflexes
and vision were excellent and I
always saw that our autos were well maintained and the tires
were good. Nevertheless "something was happening"! Thus the
changes in my driving habits.
The AARP recently published a list of 10 things
to consider when reviewing
our driving.
1. Almost crashing, with frequent
"Close Calls."
2. Finding dents and scrapes on the
car, fences, garage doors and the like.
3. Getting lost frequently.
4. Having trouble seeing or following
traffic signals, road signs, pavement
marking.
5. Responding more slowly to unexpected
situations, having trouble moving
your feet from the Gas to the Brake
Pedal. Confusing the Two!
6. Misjudging gaps in traffic at
intersections, traffic entrances and on the
Ramps.
7. Experiencing "Road Rage" or having other
drivers frequently honk at you!
8. Easily become distracted or have
trouble concentrating.
9. Having a hard time turning around to
check over your shoulder while you
are backing up or changing lanes.
10. Traffic tickets of warnings in the last few
years.
If one or several of these items are true of you
and your driving, and they were for me, you probably should
review you skills, perhaps attend a "Driving at
55"class, confine you driving to well-known, easily driven
routes to the grocery, doctors etc.
Bless your hearts, be honest, we would never
forgive ourselves were we
to cause the death or injury of anyone,
especially a young person starting in life!
Remember. "Old Age Ain't For Sissies", we
didn't get to this point by being Stupid! Let's not start now!
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