You Can't Stop Age

By Author: Marcus Stalder
Total Articles: 491
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A long time ago, we realized you can't stop the aging process. No matter what the marketers may try to tell you about their latest products, there are only two things responsible for us living longer. That's better food from birth - makes us all grow up bigger and stronger - and better medical care - even if you have a terminal disease, doctors can still keep you alive (bit of a mixed blessing, that). So there's good news and bad news following from that. First the good: as we age, we pick up a vast amount of experience in driving. Mostly this is defensive. We learn how to stay out of trouble or, if trouble finds us, we can often get out of its way. This means the accident statistics show older drivers are less likely to get into an accident or, if there is an accident, it will be less serious. The bad news is we are all living longer. It used to be the case that, a few months after retiring in their sixties, men would give up and die. They used to run on empty to get that pension and then not hang around to enjoy it. The Boomers' approach to life is rather different. They've not been working themselves into early graves. Many ...
... retired early or are working part-time into their golden years. So far as anyone can be as they come into their sixties, they are fit and healthy. Sure, the reflexes are not what they used to be and the eyesight is a bit fuzzy round the edges, but they compensate by driving more slowly.

Why is increasing life expectancy bad news? Well, fifty years ago, most older folk died or found themselves too dangerous and stopped driving. Insurers did not need to treat them as a separate class of drivers. They could be included in the low-risk group and benefit from the generally low levels of claims. But now thousands of older drivers are continuing to drive, the insurers are separating them into age bands. Between 55 and 64 years, the premium rates will tend to rise a little but not noticeably more than for younger drivers. Between 65 and 74, however, the rates will rise slightly more sharply. Over 75, the statistics show drivers have the second-highest accident rates after the teens. You really can't stop age from affecting your physical abilities. Botox injections may give you skin free of wrinkles, but they can't restore your eyesight.

So, as you age, start paying attention to the advice offered by the insurance industry. You will keep lower rates if you prove you drive less and only at off-peak times of the day. There will also be potential discounts if you fit safety features into your vehicle or go on a defensive driving course. Car insurance quotes fall when you prove you remain a safe driver. So no giving up. Shop around. Check out the forums and advice from organizations like the AARP. Car insurance quotes can be controlled so long as you look after your health and stay safe on the roads.