Of the 233 million drivers on the roads today, it is estimated by AAA and others that 58% will exhibit road rage while 80% will demonstrate aggressive driving behaviors. Aggressive driving including cutting someone off by switching lanes without signaling, tailgating, honking their horn, or making rude gestures. Men being the most at 52% with women coming in at 46%. With most road raggers being between 18 and 39. (Who is the worst driver ever over 60...Click video below)
That was the bad news. Here is Good News. Drivers between 60 and 69 are the safer of any other group of drivers. That is why some auto insurance companies only insure drivers over 50. (More about saving big $'s on auto insurance in a future blog). It's a fact, we become safer drivers as we get older. It’s also a fact that as we age into our 70s, health conditions and even our mindsets can begin to interfere with our driving abilities. Maybe that is why (According to AARP) the average age of those that stop driving is 75.
As an active ager, I think I can say most of us would like to drive into our late 70's, even into 80's. Here are 4 simply things that I have found helpful to avoid being a source of road rage while making my driving experiences safer and more enjoyable. (Win a new car if you answer the question at the end)
1. We are not passing lane police. KEEP RIGHT except to pass. The best way to prevent road rage is don’t offend. A friend of mine, Jerry Robertson said it best a few weeks back... "If there is only one car riding your bumper he is most likely the problem. If everyone is riding your bumper you are the problem."
2. Signal lights are an advanced indicator of where your going, not an afterthought of where you are. Nothing much more frustrating for a parent to be running late for their kids’ event and have someone cut them off, hit the signal light, and slow down.
3. Take the road less traveled. Great advice for life (Matthew 7:13-14) and for older drivers. If heavy traffic or busy intersections makes you really nervous take the back roads. I seldom take 400 anywhere. I use back roads when possible, even if it takes an extra 5-10 minutes. The scenery is better and less people blowing their horn at you. .
4. Avoid driving at night. With 50% of all fatal car crashes happening after dark the best safety choices active agers make is not to drive after dark. However, with the days getting shorter, grandkids’ school events, holiday celebrations around the corner, sometimes that might not be an option.
Three things that maximize our night time driving…
1. Use bright lights as much as possible.
2. Turn down the brightness of my interior lights.
3. Keep my windshield (very) clean inside.
“Happy (Driving) Trails To You” Going way back; do you know what TV show ended with that song? BTW, just joking about winning a new car
#Don’tTakeYourLastBestBiteWhileDriving
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