{"id":12091,"date":"2016-12-09T16:00:19","date_gmt":"2016-12-09T22:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/?p=12091"},"modified":"2016-12-09T04:31:58","modified_gmt":"2016-12-09T10:31:58","slug":"aaa-encourages-everyone-to-help-keep-aging-drivers-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/2016\/12\/09\/aaa-encourages-everyone-to-help-keep-aging-drivers-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"AAA Encourages Everyone to Help Keep Aging Drivers Safe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Driver Safety Is A Family Affair<\/strong><\/em><\/span>
\nHolidays Can Help Loved Ones Mitigate Crash Risk<\/p>\n

\"AAA\"Knoxville, TN <\/strong>– Heading into one of the busiest holiday travel times of the year, the observance of Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, December 5th \u2013 9th, 2016, serves as a timely reminder to keep safety top of mind while driving. <\/p>\n

Not only will there be increased traffic on our nation\u2019s roadways, many families will be reuniting with loved ones they may not see very often. This represents an occasion to have open conversations about aging drivers staying safe while behind the wheel.<\/p>\n

\"Conversations<\/a>\u201cThe holidays often afford families the opportunity to spend more time together,\u201d said Amy Stracke, Managing Director, Traffic Safety Advocacy, AAA \u2013 The Auto Club Group. \u201cMany times, this is when family members begin to notice that a loved one\u2019s health could be impacting their safe driving abilities.\u201d <\/p>\n

Visual, cognitive and movement impairments can occur at any age, making it more difficult to drive. However, as people get older, medical conditions that affect driving become more prevalent. Many older drivers don\u2019t face serious medical conditions or limitations that impact their driving, but knowing the risks and warning signs can help to reduce crash risk.<\/p>\n

\u201cConversations about safe driving can evoke strong emotional reactions as concerns about personal independence and managing other day-to-day activities may come into question, said Stephanie Milani, Tennessee Public Affairs Director, AAA \u2013 The Auto Club Group. \u201cIt\u2019s important that older drivers and their families approach these sensitive conversations as opportunities for constructive communication and problem solving.\u201d<\/p>\n

AAA offers the following safe driving tools and resources that can be found on its interactive website, SeniorDriving.AAA.com<\/a>:<\/p>\n