Do I need a car in retirement?
Despite what overzealous advocates of the horse-drawn carriage would like you to believe, driving is still the easiest way to get from point A to point B. After a lifetime of enjoying this convenience the thought of going without a vehicle can be quite a conflicting one. We take a look at the pros and cons of driving at an advanced aged, so you can figure out whether you need a car in retirement.
What are the risks of driving at an advanced age?
As The New Zealand Transport Agency notes, “A safe road system has skilled, competent, alert and sober drivers travelling at safe speeds in safe vehicles on safe roads that are predictable and forgiving of mistakes. If there comes a time when it is no longer safe to drive, people will need to retire from driving but can still maintain mobility and independence,” adding, “Older drivers are more likely to be injured or die following a crash than younger people.”
You might be a safe driver, but that doesn’t mean the people you’re sharing the road with are. And, as The New Zealand Transport Agency tellingly adds, statistics show, “Older drivers are more likely to be injured or die following a crash than younger people.”
Advantages of going without a car
While going without a vehicle may be a loss of convenience in some respect, there are also some advantages that come with choosing to go without. We’ve also taken a look at three of the main advantages you can access by choosing to get rid of your car and abandon driving in retirement.
- Get in shape by walking – Not many people realise that getting rid of your car can represent an instant fitness boost. Instead of relying on your vehicle to get you to the local corner store, without a car you’re going to have to let your legs do some of the work. But when it comes to staying in shape every little bit counts. Once you integrate this cardio activity into your life you’re sure to notice a bit of a change in your weight.
- Saves money – We’re all aware that the convenience of a car comes with a considerable price. Petrol, registration, insurance, maintenance, repairs, these costs all add up to the point where you probably can’t justify the presence of a car in your life. Getting rid of your car in retirement may make it a little bit easier to get around, but you’re also freeing up some of your spare change for things that are important.
- Cleaner planet – Even those of us without grandkids want to leave the world in a better place than we found it, and giving up your vehicle makes a big difference in terms of your ecological footprint. Because you’re getting rid of your car less fossil fuels are going to be burnt and you’re going to be contributing less carbon pollution to the world which is definitely a good thing for future generations inhabiting this earth.
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