For many of us, the RV offseason (wintertime) is the perfect time to sharpen our driving skills. After all, we want to be ready to hit the road as soon as the springtime flowers appear. The great news is that it’s possible to improve reaction time, flexibility, and more from the comfort of our own homes. Come on, RVers, let’s sharpen our driving skills now.
As we age…
“As we age….” I remember the first time my doctor said those three words to me. I think my head practically swiveled off my shoulders as I searched the exam room to locate the elderly person my doctor meant. The words “Who me?” very nearly came out of my mouth. I took a deep breath to steady myself as I realized the doc was talking to me. Me! Me?
I’ve enjoyed good health all my life, even though I haven’t always eaten sensibly, exercised faithfully, or caught up on sleep since our firstborn made her appearance. I attribute my good health to good genes. (Thanks, Mom, Dad, and everyone else hanging on our family tree!)
However, as we age (a-hem!) life takes its toll. Our reflexes naturally slow. We become less flexible and, at times, more easily distracted. Vision and hearing changes occur. Age affects each and every one of us, but we can fight back!
How long do you want to RV?
My answer to this question is: As long as I safely can. There’s still a lot of this country I want to see, but I want to do it without causing harm to myself or others. If you’re on board with a similar desire, let’s see how we can improve our driving skills to make it happen.
Checkups
The RV offseason is a great time to get annual or biannual checkups:
- Eyes. Have your vision thoroughly checked. Make sure the exam includes a test for your peripheral vision, depth perception, and color perception—all of which are essential for driving safely. (Did you know that it takes a 55-year-old’s eyes eight times longer to adjust after bright light exposure than it does a 16-year-old? Yipes!) Follow up on the doctor’s recommendations for prescription changes, cataract surgery, etc., well before camping season begins.
- Ears. Good hearing is essential for safe driving. Drivers need to hear emergency vehicles like ambulances, fire, and police sirens, as well as the horns of other drivers warning us of mistakes or danger. (Did you know that a third of folks over 65 experience some hearing loss? At age 75, that number skyrockets to two-thirds of folks who experience hearing difficulty in varying degrees.) If hearing aids are recommended, take time to research your options. Many supplemental health plans do not cover hearing aids. FYI, my husband is quite pleased with Costco’s hearing department.
(Check out these new high-tech hearing aids Nanci Dixon recently wrote about—they’re amazing!) - Motor skills. See your primary care physician for a thorough exam. Talk about your flexibility, strength, and overall health. She may suggest exercises that will improve the muscles needed for driving, like torso twisting, head and neck flexibility, leg strength, and more. Also discuss your sleep patterns, as this can also affect your ability to drive safely. Finally, ask your physician if any of your prescription medications might have an adverse effect on your driving skills.
At-home activities
Reaction time training
One of the biggest challenges for older drivers is a naturally slower reaction time. There are many free, online tools to help you improve your cognitive reaction time to become a safer driver. Try this reaction time test, or this one or this. You can also Google “games to improve reaction time” for more.
Attention training
Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and card games can boost your attention span and help make you a more attentive driver. There are also online offerings that can exercise your brain, like Brainteasers and Lumosity.
In addition, staying social (conversing with others, volunteering, being involved with organizations), hobbies, and reading will also help maintain your attention prowess.
Outside the house
CarFit
Your RV or fifth wheel tow vehicle must provide the best fit for you. AARP, AAA, and the American Occupational Therapy Association have teamed up to provide a program that will help you adjust your seat, mirrors, steering wheel, and more to help you drive as safely as possible. Check out their website and find a program site. Plan to drive your RV or tow vehicle to get CarFit before the camping season arrives.
Senior drivers’ course
Look into taking a driving class specially tailored for seniors. AAA offers a class that can be taken online or in person at select locations.
You can do this! Come on, RVers, sharpen your driving skills now and get ready to hit the road—just as soon as that snow melts!
##RVDT2286
One thing I found out is you have no control over your body. Some kind of sickness or disease can happen at any time. If you have to get a Cat Scan have them include your pancreas. This way they can tell early on if you have pancreatic cancer.
Having worked in transportation safety for 46 years, I found the best thing an aging RV’er can do is slow down. Simply stated, speed affects control.
Speed affects vision (both central & peripheral), perception time, reaction time, braking time, and the physical control of your RV. As we age, we need to reduce our speed. In addition, driving slower saves a substantial amount of fuel. I drive 55 mph and get 9-10 mpg. Not bad for a full rig plus toad. The speed limit is just that – the limit.
Your body will thank you too with less stress, less fatigue, and less frustration. Try it, you’ll like it.
Everything you say is true, now all you have to do is convince everyone that the journey is as rewarding as the destination. I can’t tell you how many times I have been passed by RV’s traveling well above the speed limit. Personally I travel at 60-62 mph as that usually is the rpm the manufacturer has built the engine to be the most efficient. I get the best performance and mpg at that rpm. I’m not a “rolling roadblock” as the truck drivers call us as many company trucks are governed at that speed and I’m still covering a reasonable distance each hour. To those who think they are behind schedule I say “you should’ve left earlier”.
I’ve had a “Technician” ham license for over 20 years but haven’t done any ‘hamming’ in about 17 years. So now that I’m retired I’ve decided to upgrade to “General”. Is it to gain access to a bunch more HF frequencies? No! It’s to see if my brain is still capable of simple grammar school memorization skills. Let me tell ya, it’s been rough studying this stuff. First off, I really don’t care about most of the technological jibberish involved in the upgrade so that in itself makes it tough. But I take practice tests over and over and over, and I still get some of the same stuff wrong. The test is January 20th. Wish me luck.
Good luck to you! And congratulations on challenging yourself.
Good luck, Tommy!🤞 My grandpa was a ham radio operator, K7SD. I was absolutely mesmerized watching him rapidly tap out the Morse code on his equipment in the basement of his home when I was a little kid (back in the Dark Ages!). I’m sure things have changed just a wee bit since then.🙄 You can do it! Have a wonderful and very healthy 2024!🤗 –Diane
Thank you, Diane. I’m really pounding this.
You can do it, Tommy. Take care.🤗 –Diane
Good Luck and Happy New Year Tommy!!!
Thank you, Gail! Great advice. I have my annual physical in the fall of each year. Perhaps I will recall the correct questions to ask by next fall’s appointment. If I don’t, then that is information for later deliberations. 🤔 Meanwhile, have a wonderfully blessed 2024! 🙂
Excellent advice Gail! Thanks for putting it together. At 87 and still very active, except for the limitations imposed by arthritis in my back, I find driving to be more challenging as speeds increase and other drivers’ patience lessens! I drive the speed limits in my car. The motor home I usually run 59 to 62, except in construction zones now at 65 mph so I increase to that.
No glasses and no hearing aids yet. Also, active in local Legion and Township government. No traffic citations either!
I’m impressed! Enjoy safe travels!