Topic: Overly Cautious - Can you prevent yourself from becoming this way?

[RunsinLight]

As you get older most people tend to become overly cautious.  One thing I've always done is pay attention to the way I'm driving and ask myself would I have went in that situation in the past? If I say yes I usually get mad at myself. If you take steps to realize what your doing can this progression be slowed down?

  OR 

[rrocket]

Hmmmm....I dispute that.  I see old people driving around less safe than younger people.....

[RunsinLight]

Hmmmm....I dispute that.  I see old people driving around less safe than younger people.....

So the answer would be yes? lol

[rrocket]

I didn't say yes.  I'm saying for the most part I don't see people being more cautious as the age...I see them as less cautious....Maybe oblivious is the better word...

[tpl]

I certainly am more cautious nowadays at 62 than I was at 20, 30,40,50.    I find I tend to drive more slowly in town, stop on more amber lights. Certainly pass less on two-lane roads although I drive more miles on two-laners than ever before in Canada.  Drive far more carefully at night as I realize my vision, never good, is getting worse as happens to everyone with age.

However I will still cruise at 130 on the 401 ( but not at 150 anymore) and I will still drive through our far too few roundabouts in the UK style.   ( no brakes, no signals, fit into the smallest gap on entry and always be in the correct lane for exit)

Still curse at slowpokes driving Corollas at less than the speed limit and old farts toddling along in their Buicks.   

[safristi]

..TESTES_MOAN_IAL,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,:"Tha PATCH WERKED FER ME"..............i'm road ragiously Fashte...pass onn left and right and middle .............WOW is this a BLAST OR WOT!!!! ......................

[ovr50]

I certainly am more cautious nowadays at 62 than I was at 20, 30,40,50.    I find I tend to drive more slowly in town, stop on more amber lights. Certainly pass less on two-lane roads although I drive more miles on two-laners than ever before in Canada.  Drive far more carefully at night as I realize my vision, never good, is getting worse as happens to everyone with age.

However I will still cruise at 130 on the 401 ( but not at 150 anymore) and I will still drive through our far too few roundabouts in the UK style.   ( no brakes, no signals, fit into the smallest gap on entry and always be in the correct lane for exit)

Still curse at slowpokes driving Corollas at less than the speed limit and old farts toddling along in their Buicks.   

Ditto that. I still "push" other cars not doing the appropriate speed, especially if they are in the so-called fast lane. I also give the finger to young girls yakking on the cell phone when driving 2 inches off my rear bumper; but I try to get out of their way ASAP as they are usually too dense to realize what one is trying to tell them. But I definitely do not feel as comfortable driving at night as I used to. 

[safristi]

.... ........

[Schmengie]

I seem to recall a scientific study that proved people's reflexes actually slow down as they age. I'm not sure who made this earth-shaking discovery, but perhaps a Nobel Prize is in order.  

Sarcasm aside, at 57 years old I'm still driving pretty much as I always have. I don't imagine I'm immune to the effects of aging any more than the next person, so I'll be sure to let everyone know when I turn into a Buick-driving dawdler.

[articsteve]

As you get older most people tend to become overly cautious

Aged ppl are less aware of their surroundings and when you come across them keep that in mind.  Generally, IMO, after age 70 ppl become slightly dangerous on the road.  Reaction time is poor.  Reflexs are poor.  Focus/attention is poor. 

Can't wait. 

[Winklovic]

Listening to people report collision claims for the past 7 years has made me much more cautious.

[dr_spock]

Those who aren't are probably in self-denial. 

[weebl]

At 33, I'd say my driving has changed somewhat since I was 16, or 25.  I tend to be more defensive around other drivers - I find myself more likely to think that the next driver is going to do something stupid, so I tend to give myself more room around them.  I found myself starting off as fast as I could from stoplights when I was younger, now that happens maybe a couple of times a month, as I've grown to realize that's extra strain on a car, wastes fuel, and you can still end up driving fast without necessarily accelerating as fast as possible.

I do still love to drive fast (but don't do so much anymore, at least not by the same degree, only 10-15 over now versus 20+ over as a minimum in BC, which I still do when we are out there visiting) , but I think that has changed not as a result of age, but two other factors - having kids in the vehicle, and moving to Edmonton from Vancouver, as photoradar is all over the place here, not to mention the occasional speeding ticket here can dramatically affect insurance rates (which wasn't as much so the case under ICBC).

And, like TPL, I also still curse at slowpokes driving Corollas at less than the speed limit and old farts toddling along in their Buicks.

[safristi]

  YOU OF COURSE meant to say "YOUNG FARTS" in their Corollas................ ...............don't see many YOUNG GOOD DRIVERS....such a shame.............they're i Podded OUT...PHONE ME!!!! ...if yer merely a SLOW_POKE in yer twenties then ask yer Dr. about Cialis.......................    U know "E,D" afflicts so few..................EDUCATED DRIVERS...............

[johngenx]

I love to go fast.  Yup, I have the "need for speed."  However, as I have aged, I have come to realize that I wish to be more in control of my situation, and drive very defensively in traffic.  I often have my family in the car, and it's not fair to them for me to take risks they might not have.

Also, I have come to appreciate how one person's actions can impact others.  Driving dangerously not only impacts yourself, but you stand a good chance of ruining/ending someone else's life.  Not good.

Now, with all that out of the way, I still enjoy risk.  I enjoy putting my life in danger and thrive in situations where I literally hold my life in my hands and every decision is life or death.  It's why I alpine climb, ski "no fall" couloirs, and take my performance motorcycle out at 5am on a Sunday morning and go 300km/h.  But, these are situations where either I alone will die with a mistake, or only a small group of us that accepted that risk at face value.

So, am I "overly cautious?"  I don't think so.  Would I say I have become more cautious with age?  Yes, but not in all situations.  It's more about risk analysis.  In terms of my life, I think my overall risk actually increases as I increase my limits and push my boundaries further.

[Rupert]

You all sound like the woman pictured in the Grey Power add. and I dont drive like you so why should I pay the same insurance as you....I don't and I am a senior. So much for seniors being less safe. At least one insurance company does not think so.

[sailor723]

I seem to recall a scientific study that proved people's reflexes actually slow down as they age. I'm not sure who made this earth-shaking discovery, but perhaps a Nobel Prize is in order.  

Sarcasm aside, at 57 years old I'm still driving pretty much as I always have. I don't imagine I'm immune to the effects of aging any more than the next person, so I'll be sure to let everyone know when I turn into a Buick-driving dawdler.

You've assuming that there will still be Buicks to dawdle in....maybe you mean "turn into an Avalon-driving dawdler"

[tpl]

An Avalon is just the result of a Toyota Corolla and a Buick Roadmaster having sex. The worst of both. 

[airbalancer]

An Avalon is just the result of a Toyota Corolla and a Buick Roadmaster having sex. The worst of both. 

That should be Camry not Corolla

Grey Power has sh$t prices

[Rupert]

So since insurance companies do not seem to think that age is a bad thing in a driver...perhaps you guys should start looking inward since you seem to belong to the demographic responsible for claims.
Besides you will all become better insurance risks one day...just hang in with a little good natured patience.