Finally, once you've decided on the best response to the situation, it's time to act. Here are some steps to help enhance your ability to take successful action and reduce your risk:

• Reduce your speed. Slowing down a bit can give you mroe time and space to perform any maneuvers that might be required.
• Maintain an escape path. Always maintain a cushion of space around your vehicle that you can drive into, should your path of travel become blocked or intruded upon. You'll appreciate the comfort of knowing the space next to you is open, should you need to move into it quickly.
• Cover your brake. If you detect a potentially risky situation, lift your right foot from the accelerator, and position it just above the brake pedal. That way, if you end up having to apply the brakes, you will be able to begin slowing sooner.

Fitness

Even though it’s not considered an Olympic sport, driving is a physically demanding activity. Senior drivers must deal with weaker muscles, reduced flexibility and a more limited range of motion, which all can affect their ability to grip and turn the steering wheel, press the accelerator or brake, or even reach to open the doors and windows. Arthritis, a common crippling inflammatory disease of the joints, is a primary concern for mature drivers. It affects 50 percent of the middle-aged population.

The bottom line is that a driver who gets no physical exercise may not have the strength, flexibility and coordination to operate a vehicle safely. Keeping physically fit can be as simple as walking for at least 20 minutes five times a week. Gardening, golf, tennis, and other activities are also great ways to keep your body in top physical condition.

The AAA Foundation offers some great, simple exercises to help stay limber.

Medications

Prescription medications have made aging, and dealing with the ailments that accompany the process, much easier. Unfortunately, these medications and driving don’t always mix. Many medications can cause drowsiness, sap energy and slow reaction time. An additional factor can be dangerous drug interactions. Older people many times see more than one doctor, each of whom may prescribe a different type of medication. When taken together, some drugs can multiply impairment and make it extremely risky to operate a vehicle. Some of the worst offenders include tranquilizers, pain pills, sleep medicines, antidepressants, cough medicines, antihistamines, and decongestants.

Rx for safe driving:

• Read the fine print. If a medication is labeled “Do not use while operating heavy machinery,” it’s probably not a good idea to drive a car while taking it.
• Inform your doctor about nonprescription medication you are taking. It could interact with some prescription drugs and cause serious side effects.
• Discuss your medication and its effects with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Always check with your doctor before stopping any medication.
• Avoid driving when you first start taking a new medication. Side effects such as drowsiness are often worse for the first few days, but lessen as the body adjusts.
• Don’t drive if medication makes you feel sleepy or disoriented.