When you drive on major Nigerian roads, you will likely come across elderly drivers license a couple of times. Since not everyone can afford a chauffeur or an electric car, they tend to drive until they can't any more. But driving into old age comes with lots of factors like poor vision and other physical problems that affect your efficiency and skills in general. What do you do when you're in such situation? How will you help an elderly person in that condition? Here are important driving tips for elderly people - to ensure their safety and effectiveness behind the wheel, brought to you by Naijacarnews!

1. Wear your seat belt at all times

Once you get into your vehicle, put on your seat belts. In as much as this goes without saying, the impact of an accident will likely affect an elderly person more than someone younger. If the seat belt causes you pain around the shoulder region or doesn't let you steer and shift sticks easily, adjust them accordingly or better yet, get a shoulder pad for the belt. You might have come across some on other people's cars, it slides on the belt.

2. Don't drink or eat while driving

Eating while driving can actually distract you. Your eyes end up multitasking by staying on the road, the mirrors and on the food. As an elderly person, this is difficult to handle all at once. Keep in mind that the older you get, the less sensitive you are in seeing and hearing. So you need to avoid all distractions. This also goes for drinking before or while driving. Alcohol affects the pace at which one can make a decision. You don't use that inability to make a proper judgement while driving. Therefore, wait till you get to your destination before drinking or eating.

With the visibility issues associated with old age, its best that you avoid every distraction

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3. Stay alert

Try as much as you can to stay alert and awake. This is why it's wise not to drive when you're tired - as an elderly person. You might even sleep off behind the wheel or not see oncoming vehicles. Ensure you eat at least 30 minutes before you drive and have slept enough. This way you can hear any strange noise and notice cars driving close to yours.

4. Drive with both hands

Lots of drivers these days consider one-hand driving, cool. Don't do this as an elderly person. Try as much as possible to keep both your hands on the wheel at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. It makes steering easier. It also removes any probable injuries when there's an accident and the airbags are deployed.

5. Drive only when there's great visibility

If there's no emergency, please drive during the day. You need to see the road clearly while behind the wheel and driving at night makes that quite stressful. Not only is your visibility poor, but the headlamps from oncoming cars can also hamper vision.

Furthermore, avoid driving while it's raining or in a fog. The noise from the rain hitting your car prevents you from hearing what's going on around the vehicle. It not only affects how well you see but your control of the vehicle. Better still, simply park somewhere safe till the weather is clearer or postpone your movements till the next day.

Please make sure you can see everything clearly while driving!

6. Drive on less congested roads

Congested roads or routes with heavy traffic jams can pose some danger to an elderly driver. Not only because you will have to maneuver a lot but the stress from tailgating or being tailgated can wear you out. If you need to get somewhere during the morning or evening rush hours (7am -10am and 4pm - 7pm respectively), simply leave your home earlier than those times. Alternatively, you can take another route if there's one.

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7. Don't drive for too long

It's wise that you get a chauffeur whenever you intend to travel for long distances. A lot happens on the highway and you really won't want to get involved with the tailgating, overtaking, yelling, quick turning and so on. So if you know your journey would take more than 3 hours, simply get a younger driver to take you to your destination.

8. Buy a car with the latest driver assistance and safety systems

Lots of the latest cars being released these days come with navigation systems, self-parking features, parking assists, auto crash notifications, front and rear collision warning, anti-lock braking system and lots more. These features do not just help you drive better but stay safe while driving. It might be a bit difficult to use at first because lots of elderly people get so used to the outdated features in cars and are usually not open to trying new ones. But once you get a hang of these features, they make your driving less stressful.

Older people need newer assistance tech

Lastly, Nigerians know to give elderly drivers some space when they encounter them on the roads, but it's still better you look out for yourself as an older person as well. With these driving tips for elderly people, you would have less to worry about.

>>> Read more about safe driving tips right here on Naijacarnews.com!