At age 78, Sheila thinks she’s a good driver, and she would like to stay that way. But lately, she has been in minor accidents. Sheila wonders how she can stay safe behind the wheel. Will taking a class for older drivers help?
You may have asked yourself this question, or maybe a family member or friend has asked about your driving. Getting older doesn’t make you a bad driver. But you should know there are changes that may affect driving skills over time.
As you age, your joints may get stiff, and your muscles may weaken. This can make it harder to turn your head to look back, turn the steering wheel quickly, or brake safely.
What you can do:
Your eyesight may change as you get older. At night, you may have trouble seeing things clearly. Glare can also be a problem—from oncoming headlights, street lights, or the sun. It might be harder to see people, things, and movements outside your direct line of sight. It may take you longer to read street or traffic signs or even recognize familiar places. Eye diseases, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration, as well as some medicines may also change your vision.
What you can do:
Your hearing may change, making it harder to notice horns, sirens, or noises from your own car. That can be a problem because these sounds warn you when you may need to pull over or get out of the way. It is important that you hear them.
What you can do:
In order to drive safely, you should be able to react quickly to other cars and people on the road. You need to be able to make decisions and to remember what to do. Being able to make quick decisions while driving is important so you can avoid accidents and stay safe. Changes over time might slow how fast you react. You may find that your reflexes are getting slower. Stiff joints or weak muscles can make it harder to move quickly. Your attention span may be shorter. Or, it might be harder for you to do two things at the same time.
What you can do:
Some health problems can make it harder for people of any age to drive safely. But other conditions that are more common as you get older can also make driving difficult. For example, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and arthritis can interfere with your driving abilities. At some point, someone with health problems may feel that he or she is no longer a good driver and may decide to stop driving.
People with illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia may forget how to drive safely. They also may forget how to find a familiar place like the grocery store or even home. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, some people are able to keep driving safely for a while. But, as memory and decision-making skills worsen, driving will be affected. If you have dementia, you might not be able to tell that you are having driving problems. Family and friends may give you feedback about your driving. Doctors can help you decide whether it’s safe to keep driving.
What you can do:
Do you take any medicines that make you feel drowsy, light-headed, or less alert than usual? Medications can have side effects. People tend to take more medicines as they age, so pay attention to how these drugs may affect your driving.
What you can do:
Maybe you already know that driving at night, on the highway, or in bad weather is a problem for you. Older drivers can also have problems when yielding the right of way, turning (especially making left turns), changing lanes, passing, and using expressway ramps.
What you can do:
We all age differently. For this reason, there is no way to set one age when everyone should stop driving. So, how do you know if you should stop? To help you decide, ask yourself:
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be time to think about whether or not you are still a safe driver.
Are you worried that, if you stop driving, you won’t be able to do the things you want and need to do? You’re not alone. Many people have this concern, but there may be more ways to get around than you think. For example, some areas offer free or low-cost bus or taxi service for older people. Some communities also have carpools that you can join without a car. Religious and civic groups sometimes have volunteers who will drive you where you want to go. Your local Area Agency on Aging can help you find services in your area. Call 1-800-677-1116, or go to www.eldercare.gov to find the nearest Area Agency on Aging.
You can also think about taking taxis. Sound pricey? Don’t forget—it costs a lot to own a car. If you don’t have to buy a car or pay for insurance, maintenance, gas, oil, or other car expenses, then you may be able to afford to take taxis or other public transportation. You can also help buy gas for friends or family who give you rides.
More Tips For Safe DrivingPlanning before you leave:
While you are driving:
Car safety:
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Making decisions about your driving skills is hard, but it is important to find the safest option for you and the others who share the road with you. Here are some helpful resources.
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
607 14th Street, NW, Suite 201
Washington, DC 20005
1-202-638-5944
www.seniordrivers.org
AARP
601 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20049
1-888-227-7669 (toll-free)
www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety
Administration on Aging
Washington, DC 20201
1-202-619-0724
www.aoa.gov
American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators
4301 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 400
Arlington, VA 22203
1-703-522-4200
www.granddriver.info
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Safety - HSSI, E71-318
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
1-202-366-6836
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/
The Hartford
One Hartford Plaza
690 Asylum Avenue
Hartford, CT 06115
1-860-547-5000
www.thehartford.com/alzheimers
For more information on health and aging, contact:
National Institute on Aging Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
1-800-222-2225 (toll-free)
1-800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)
www.nia.nih.gov
ww.nia.nih.gov/espanol
To sign up for regular email alerts about new publications and other information from the NIA, go to www.nia.nih.gov/health.
Visit www.nihseniorhealth.gov, a senior-friendly website from the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine. This website has health and wellness information for older adults. Special features make it simple to use. For example, you can click on a button to have text read out loud or to make the type larger.
National Institute on Aging
National Institutes of Health
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Publication Date: June 2011
Page Last Updated: May 7, 2012