safe driving Archives

Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Team Offers Driving Safety Tips to Seniors

Posted on September 21, 2018 by Michael Hinck

Everyone remembers the day they passed their road test and received their driver’s license. Getting a license opens up a world of options for drivers and provides them with a sense of independence that they didn’t have before.

If you received your license a long time ago, and are now a senior citizen driver, you may begin to notice certain limitations that could potentially impact your ability to operate a vehicle. While for some, driving at an advanced age may no longer be advised, most seniors can still enjoy the benefits of driving by taking a few extra precautions.

Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Division is offering the following tips to senior drivers to help them avoid injury to themselves, other drivers or pedestrians while on the road.

Have Your Vision and Hearing Checked Regularly – Be aware of any ocular conditions, such as cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration that might affect your vision. If you wear glasses or contacts, make sure you wear them while driving. Similarly, if you require a hearing aid, make sure you don’t drive without one as it is an important device to help you hear car horns and emergency sirens.
Be Aware of Other Health Factors – Pain or stiffness in the joints can limit mobility and your ability to check mirrors or turn your head. Chronic fatigue can be a problem, especially during long drives, and certain chronic conditions such as diabetes or seizure disorders can affect your safety. Side effects from medications can also impact driving and should be discussed with your doctor or pharmacist before driving.
Know Your Limitations – As you age, it’s important to acknowledge that certain motor functions might not be as sharp as they once were and should be taken into consideration while on the road. It is advised that seniors should increase their following distance, use their brakes earlier, try to anticipate situations before they occur, and try to avoid highly trafficked areas when possible.
Avoid Dangerous Driving Conditions – Controlling your car in inclement weather, such as rain or snow is more difficult and therefore should be avoided. Driving at night can also pose increased risks because reaction times are often affected during this time of day. Lastly, driving during rush hour presents additional opportunities for accidents to occur because other drivers tend to be more aggressive and inpatient. Under these conditions.

Getting older doesn’t mean that you can no longer drive. By following these tips, you can continue to drive without feeling as if you are a danger to yourself or others.

If however, you feel concerned about your ability to drive, it doesn’t mean you have to give up your independence. There are many car fare services and public transportation options that can still get you where you want to go.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Safe Driving This Holiday Weekend

Posted on May 24, 2017 by Andrew Rubin

A holiday weekend is upon us and that means many people will be hitting the road to visit family and friends, taking shopping trips to the mall, the beach, barbeques, or just celebrating at home. Many people get time off from work and everyone wants to have a good time. By taking a few precautions you can get to your destination safely and have a wonderful time.
Safe driving is a key component of having a happy holiday weekend. To make sure that everything goes well, here are some safety tips to follow:
• Do not speed
• Do not text while driving
• Do not drink and drive
• Plan your route in advance
• Make sure your car is operating properly – check fluids, brakes and lights
• Make sure that you are well rested before getting behind the wheel
• Make sure that everyone in the vehicle is buckled up
Following these safe driving tips will make sure your holiday weekend will be a lot happier.

Tips for Safe Driving in the Snow and Ice

Posted on January 22, 2016 by Michael Hinck

Severe weather and snow can prove treacherous for drivers during the winter months. Every year there is an average of 500,000 motor vehicles accidents due to snowy and icy weather. Over 150,000 injuries and nearly 2,000 fatalities are reported annually from driving in these conditions. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Trauma Division wants all motorists to have a basic understanding of how to practice proper safety while driving in wintry conditions.

The best tip to avoid getting into an accident during inclement weather is to avoid driving and stay home. To elude getting caught in a storm, be sure to watch weather reports for both your location as well as your destination in an effort to delay or reschedule unnecessary long trips. If however you must venture out, take the appropriate precautions and make sure you are properly prepared.

Many safety precautions can be made before you even start your car. These tips include:

• Avoid driving while you’re fatigued. Getting the proper amount of rest before taking on winter weather tasks reduces driving risks.
• Always make sure your vehicle is in peak operating condition by having it inspected by a licensed mechanic.
• Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Also make sure your exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow or ice
• Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
• Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.
• Pack the necessary safety items such as cellular telephone, extra blankets, gloves, hats, food, water and any needed medication in your vehicle in case you get stuck for an extended period of time
Once you are in your vehicle and on the road, it is important to be extra cautious and follow these basic instructions for driving in a winter storm:
• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight.
• Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, and turning all take longer on wet surfaces than on dry pavement.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface.
• Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of effort it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling.
• When going uphill, avoid applying your brakes or attempting to accelerate. Attempting to accelerate after braking places extra pressure on your tires and will cause your wheels to spin in place.

Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Division treats an increased amount of motorists during winter storms. It is our goal to have you avoid unnecessary accidents by practicing safe driving this winter.