Senior Care News

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Caregiver in Galion OH

In many colder climates, April is the month during which seniors may begin to get a taste of warmer weather, sunshine, and the opportunity to get out of the house.  Seniors who have spent a long winter indoors will be eager to get out and meet with friends, visit parks, outdoor markets and gardens, and maybe take a day trip or two out on the road.  If your seniors loved one hasn’t driven much during the past few months, April is a great time to brush up on some basic driving safety guidelines.  In fact, April is observed as Distracted Driving Awareness Month by the National Safety Council.  With the technology that is available to us today, distracted driving has become a big safety risk in the United States today.  Here are just a few ways that seniors (and their caregivers, too!) can prevent distracted driving and make the road safer for themselves and others today.

 

Stay on Route Without Getting Distracted

Seniors and their caregivers use their phones for many purposes, and one of those purposes is getting directions from place to place.  As tempting as it may be to look down at the phone to read directions or a map, it is a safer idea to turn on the voice navigation feature and let the phone dictated the directions to you.  This way, yours and your loved one’s eyes stay on the road and not on the phone.

 

Hands-Free isn’t Always Distraction Free

Talking on the phone while driving is a habit that many Americans find it hard to break.  While it is best to avoid chatting while driving, using a hands-free option may seem like a great idea.  Looking down even just for a second to place a call can put you and your senior loved one at risk, so in this way, hands-free is the better option.  However, talking on the phone in any way can cause the driver to be mentally distracted, so the very best choice is to limit all calls when driving.

 

Being “Social” Can Wait

With a smartphone on hand, it can be very tempting to take photos, look at social media, tweet, text, etc. while on the road.  However, these tasks are very distracting and can impair one’s ability to drive safely.  While behind the wheel, put your smartphone away and wait until you are parked safely at a destination before using it again.

 

If you are considering hiring caregiver services in Galion, OH, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161.  Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Bellville, Mt. Gilead, Loudonville, Crestline, Galion, Shelby, Ashland, Wooster, and the surrounding areas.

Source:  http://www.nsc.org/learn/NSC-Initiatives/Pages/distracted-driving-awareness-month.aspx

Stephen Sternbach

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