MINIMIZE WHIPLASH

WRECK-LESS DRIVING ©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

MINIMIZE WHIPLASH
ANCHORAGE, AK: Driving at a reasonable speed for the ice condition of the road, Harvey's momentary inattention caused him to rear-end the car which had just stopped ahead. Harvey was placed in a neck brace and transported to a hospital. There he was diagnosed with severe whiplash. Crash reconstruction of the vehicles showed that Harvey's seatback was reclined, the headrest was 2 inches below the top of his head and 5 inches away from the back of his head. Thus Harvey has triple pain, once for the whiplash, twice for the medical and property damage he caused, and thrice for the traffic court summons.

Even when the wreck is not our fault the pain of the whiplash ought to be sufficient to convince us to adjust the seat and headrest to fit our body size. The seat back should be upright so that the head is no more than 2 inches from the headrest. The rest itself should be moved up or down to place its top even with the top of the head. And, of course, the lap and shoulder belt should be buckled snugly to keep the neck and body movement to a minimum should there be an impact.

I know, I know, this sounds like it will be less comfortable than Harvey's choice of positions. But then, Harvey can tell you that a whiplash will be a lot more uncomfortable and for a lot longer time.
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OTHER WAYS TO GET AROUND

WRECK-LESS DRIVING ©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

OTHER WAYS TO GET AROUND
EGG HARBOR CITY, NJ: Sidney S. writes that he appreciates the listing of signs that may indicate the need to stop driving. But, asks he, what can we do to continue our independent living when our community is structured around everyone having access by automobile? Good question, Sidney. There are poor alternates in most places at this time. Here are some ideas that may work for you.

**Senior Center van pools that go to essentials such as doctor, dentist, grocery, places of worship, and recreation.
**Public transportation that costs no more (yearly) than the ownership and maintenance of an automobile (taxi?).
**Retaining our vehicle but finding or hiring someone to drive it on needed occasions.
**Relying on considerate friends and neighbors to take us to the needed places.
**Recreate old-time small communities where the essentials are in the neighborhood and walkable. Disney's Celebration City at Orlando features this advantage.

Additional ideas from our readers are welcome as this is a growing problem with expensive solutions being the most obvious and the most out-of-reach.
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WHEN SHOULD I STOP DRIVING?

WRECK-LESS DRIVING ©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

WHEN SHOULD I STOP DRIVING?
CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI: Aubry, L. asks "how I can tell when it is time to give up my driver's license"? First off, Aubry, you show your excellent self-control by even asking the question. Unfortunately, most of us are afraid to admit to ourselves that such a possibility exists. Here are some of the most obvious signs that we have a safety problem and that we need to do something about it.

*Medical conditions that affect our hearing, seeing, mobility, reaction time, and decision making ability either directly or because the medicine we take has these side-effects.
*Increasing incidents of nearly crashing.
*Quickly becoming tired or sleepy while driving.
*A number of fender-benders. Statistics imply that even crashes which are not our fault make us more likely to have one or more that are our fault.
*Problems in seeing clearly through the windshield, especially in the rain, and at dusk or twilight.
*Feeling more uneasy about the many demands which driving puts upon our physical acuities.
*Being aware that we can no longer coordinate hand and foot movements for smooth movement of the vehicle.
*Our friends and loved ones avoid riding with us.

With 78 million "boomers" on their way to having to face this situation we need desperately to provide alternate public and private transportation and living facilities in the US. No doubt, Aubry, the same is true on Prince Edward Island.
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REMAINING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT

WRECK-LESS DRIVING ©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

REMAINING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT
ARAB, AL: Bobby C. is worried that at age 76 she will be prevented from driving anymore. Not that she has ever had a wreck of her fault or another's. But lately her children, who live a hundred miles away, have been hinting that maybe she is reaching "the dangerous age for driving". Where did we get the idea that at some definite age all drivers automatically become poor drivers?

The truth is that about age 55 most of us begin a more noticeable decline in our physical condition. It takes a little longer to refocus from the road to the instrument panel, to react to traffic changes and to warning signs, to hear soon enough the emergency vehicles approaching from what direction, to turn our head to see into the blind spots not covered by the auto's mirrors. Eventually these changes accumulate to a point where we can be a danger to ourselves and to others. But there is no set age at which all of us suddenly are to be declared unfit to drive. There are dangerous drivers in all age groups as well as safe ones at all ages.

The safest older drivers are those who admit to their frailties and do something about them. In addition to the obvious care for our bodies to make them last longer, we can relearn safe driving techniques, avoid the most dangerous roads, drive less during dark hours, and use alternate transportation where it is available. It need not threaten our egos or be humiliating to admit at some point that our lessened ability to drive is likely to be murderous. But it doesn't happen to everyone overnight at age 76.
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MASCARA BLACKENS RECORD

WRECK-LESS DRIVING ©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist

MASCARA BLACKENS RECORD
FAIRFAX, VA: While driving in rush hour I-95 traffic, Valerie N was summoned by a vigilant State Trooper for applying mascara while on-the-move. He saw her putting on the mascara with one hand, looking in the rearview mirror and holding the wheel with the other hand. Valerie was charged with reckless driving which the State defines as a wanton or willful disregard for the safety of others. The Judge let her "off" with a $25 fine on a lesser charge of improper driving, which she has appealed.

Valerie told the Court that her actions were no different than dialing a cell phone, drinking a cup of coffee, lighting a cigarette, or changing radio stations. She is mostly correct on that. Any removal of attention to surrounding fast moving vehicles is dangerous. We all know that there are enough inattentive drivers on the highways without our contributing to their number and to their mayhem.

For future WRECK-LESS columns please do send us your experiences with dangerous driving situations.
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