Older adults often value the independence of driving on their own. But driving often becomes more challenging over time due to changes that occur with aging. Mobility challenges, medical conditions, vision changes, and certain medications can impact your ability to drive safely.
Keep reading to learn more about factors that affect your driving ability as you age.
Changes to Driving Ability
The National Institute on Aging notes that conditions such as arthritis can impact your ability to drive. It can be harder to turn your head and the steering wheel. Slower reaction time can impact your ability to brake safely. If arthritis or stiff joints and muscles are impacting your driving, talk to your medical provider. Hand controls can help make driving more comfortable if you have difficulty with your legs.
Eyesight changes can make it more difficult to see people, objects, and movement outside of your direct sight line. Reading street signs may take longer and it can be challenging to see clearly when driving at night. Adults 60 and older should get a dilated eye exam every year or two. If you need your glasses or contacts to see when driving, take extra care to keep your prescription up to date.
Changes to your hearing can make it harder to notice traffic noises such as horns and sirens. Get your hearing checked every three years at minimum after age 50, or more often if you’ve had chronic exposure to loud noises or other hearing loss risk factors. If you have hearing concerns, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options.
Medical Conditions
Some medical conditions make it unsafe for you to drive. For example, Parkinson’s disease symptoms like uncontrollable movements and loss of coordination make it too dangerous to get behind the wheel. Movement limitations following a stroke can also impact driving.
If you’re taking a new medication, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any side effects and how they may impact your ability to drive safely. Some medications can make you feel drowsy or lightheaded, which can make it unsafe to drive.
Tips to Help Older Adults Drive Safety
Know your limits and make safe choices about driving. It might be time to stop driving at night, or you might decide to avoid driving when the weather is wet or snowy. Some older drivers prefer to take scenic routes and avoid busy highways whenever possible.
If you have any concerns about your health and driving, share them with your doctor. Don’t put yourself or others at risk by driving if you feel that it’s unsafe.
There are a few things you can do to help maintain your driving abilities. Stay physically active, focusing on strength and mobility. Take good care of your vision and hearing. Avoid driving at night if you struggle to see well in the dark, and try to avoid driving during sunrise and sunset, as the sun can be directly in your line of sight. Try not to drive during rush hour and avoid heavy traffic when possible.
Evaluate your car. An automatic transmission, power steering, and newer features including backup cameras and sensors can help you drive more confidently.
Always leave plenty of space between your vehicle and the car in front of you. Start braking early when you need to stop. Always wear your seatbelt and avoid distractions such as eating and adjusting the radio when driving.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact the Schuerman Law office today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.
