Senior Driving Tips from Royal Purple

Did you know by the year 2020, there will be 54 million Americans over 65 years of age in the U.S. - and many of them will be driving? (AAAseniors.com) You may have a grandparent, parent or know an older driver who is still getting behind the wheel to run errands, drive to appointments or just like to get out for a "Sunday drive." Does his or her safety on the road have you concerned? An older driver doesn't mean her or she shouldn't drive, but you can help plan ahead and take steps to ensure the safest trip possible.


While it should be up to the older driver to assess his or her driving abilities, Senior Driver or Senior Improvement courses are great ways to help in that assessment. Senior driving classes can reacquaint the driver with the rules of the road, point out warning signs for the driver to be aware of and discuss new driving issues like distractions such as texting and cell phone use. To find a Senior Driving Course where you are, you can check with your local senior center, AARP or AAA.

Having a well maintained vehicle is another factor in safe driving. That is why it's important to follow regular maintenance practices. Check the air pressure and condition of your tires and have them rotated. A good rule of thumb is to rotate them every other oil change. Get your oil changed and to extend the life of your car and the oil, consider using a synthetic motor oil like Royal Purple. Cars running synthetic oil can go up to 10,000 miles between oil changes which means less money spent on oil changes and less impact on the environment with less oil disposed.

Keeping your headlights clean is a safe driving practice.

Other items to check for safe driving include:

• Clean and adjust your headlights. A technician at a dealership of repair shop can adjust the aim to help you see the road better and help other drivers avoid glare.
• Keep your windows inside and out clean. Removing haze or dust can increase your visibility behind the wheel
• Have windshield chips and cracks repaired. The sooner you have that chip repaired, the chance it will spread to a crack that will require full windshiled replacement will be minimized.

Even if you're only making short trips in your car, it is good to be prepared in case of an emergency. If you do not own a cell phone, donated and recycled phones are programmed to only dial 9-1-1. Some cell phone manufacturers are producing phones with larger buttons and display for seniors to use and offer special senior calling plans.  Both Verizon Wireless and AT&T offer senior plans for consumers 65 and older.

It is also good to have an emergency preparedness kit that includes: phone numbers to call in emergency (relatives or neighbors, towing company, local garage or dealership), quart of motor oil, tire gauge, whit cloth or sign that will help you signal for help, jumper cables, flashlight and blanket.

Most people want to drive as long as possible. For seniors who still enjoy driving, one of the first steps for safety on the road is following the basics and being prepared.