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As we get older we tend to focus on safety and security issues in a more serious light. Knowing we are more vulnerable as the years pass by is a given.

Like home security, you should review your driving habits from time to time. If you are a mature driver it is important to understand the physical and mental changes that sneak up on you over time.

Good vision is essential to safe driving. When we age, the retina becomes less sensitive to light. More light makes it easier to drive and mature drivers require significantly more light than younger drivers.

Our ability to change focus starts to slow down around the age of 40. A driver over the age of 40 can take at least a second longer to refocus on the road after glancing from the dash of his or her vehicle.

We judge how fast other cars are moving by our peripheral vision. When we age our depth perception declines because our peripheral vision narrows. Colors become more difficult to see, especially red, an essential color to road safety.

Statistics show that one third of people over 65 and one half of people over 85 have hearing problems. With these types of stats it's safe to say our hearing becomes less acute as we age.

We also tend to process information more slowly as we mature. Once a decision has been made, the driver needs to react. But testing shows that many older drivers take longer to perform motor activities because of weaker muscles, reduced flexibility and range of motion.

If you are wondering if your driving skills, abilities and knowledge are as good as they could be contact your community police station for information on their Mature Driver's Program.

This is a practical non-intimidating two-hour workshop facilitated by senior volunteers and designed for mature drivers. Drivers can assess their skill and habits plus update their knowledge of vehicle safety features and road regulations.

It is important to keep up with the changes in driving and highway regulations and signs. Remember driving is more complicated then it was a few years ago and the rules of the road have changed. Keeping yourself familiar with the latest rules can eliminate hesitation or uncertainty when making a split second decision.

Feeling safe and secure in our world goes beyond locking doors and windows and engaging burglar alarms. It goes beyond making sure our emergency contact numbers are easily assessable should the day take a turn for the worse.

It even goes beyond knowing you have reliable neighbors you can count on at any time of the day or night. Feeling safe encompasses a whole gamete of psyche. Part of the psyche is knowing you have done everything possible to contribute to a safe and healthy environment for all.