I've been driving for a long time.  Why should I be concerned with evaluating my driving skills?

As you grow older, certain physical changes affect the way you drive. These can occur so gradually that you may not even be aware of them.  Vision, reflexes, flexibility and hearing begin to deteriorate around age 55, with even greater loss after 75.  Aging drivers can adjust their driving habits to cope safely with this.  The purpose for the self-rating evaluation is to help you to continue to drive longer and safer.

If any of these situations bother you,
headlight glare, night driving, judging distance, left turns, parking, passing, backing, shoulder checks, other drivers, entering or exiting highways...

you will benefit from taking the self-rating driver evaluation.

Self Rating Evaluation

Instructions: for the answer that most applies to you in

each statement, add a check

 

		Always or Nearly  Always	Sometimes	Never or Almost  Never
1	I signal and check to the rear when I change lanes
2	I wear a seat belt
3	I try to stay informed on changes in driving and highway regulations
4	Intersections bother me because there is so much to watch from all directions
5	I find it difficult to decide when to join traffic on a busy highway
6	I think I am slower than I used to be in reacting to dangerous driving situations
7	When I am really upset I show it in my driving
8	My thoughts wander when I am driving
9	Traffic situations make me angry
10	I get regular eye checks to keep my vision at its sharpest
11	I check with my doctor or pharmacist about the effects of my medication on my driving ability
12	I try to stay abreast of current information on health practices and habits
13	My children, other family members or friends are concerned about my driving ability
NEW HEADING		None	One or Two	Three  or More
14	How many traffic tickets, warnings, or discussions with officers have you had in he past two years?
15	How many accidents have you had during the past two years

Scoring:  Count the number of check marks in the squares and record the total in the square below. Follow the same procedure for the triangles and circles.
 
 

These are your check mark totals

Step 1:  Add the number of pink boxes you selected in the survey above and multiply that number by five.

Step 2:   Add the number of yellow boxes you selected in the survey above and multiply that number by three.

Add the total scores for Step 1 and Step 2.
 

The lower your score the safer driver you are.  The higher the score the more dangerous you are to yourself and others.  Please see the score chart below.
 

Score 0-15	GOOD!   You are aware of what is important to safe driving and are practicing what you know
Score 16-34	CAUTION! Some practices need improvement to ensure safety
Score 35 and over	UNSAFE!   You are a potential or actual hazard to yourself and others.  Examine the areas where you scored poorly.

Help may be found by contacting your family doctor, pharmacist, optometrist, a local driving school, or the Board of Education driving program.

This self-rating evaluation is taken from the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety Manual 1994.