Seniors on the Road

Driving is a critical issue for seniors - and for this country. Right now older drivers are more likely to get in multiple-vehicle accidents than younger drivers, including teenagers. The elderly are also more likely to get traffic citations for failing to yield, turning improperly, and running red lights and stop signs - an indication of decreased driving ability.

Car accidents are more dangerous for seniors than for younger people. A person 65 or older who is involved in a car accident is more likely to be seriously hurt, more likely to require hospitalization, and more likely to die than younger people involved in the same crash. In particular, fatal crash rates rise sharply after a driver has reached the age of 70.

Obviously, safe driving is an important issue for our country’s elders. Everyone ages differently, so some people are perfectly capable of continuing to drive in their seventies, eighties, and even beyond. Many elders, however, are at higher risk for road accidents. A few of the factors that contribute to increased risk, along with suggestions for modifying that risk:

• Loss of hearing acuity. Hearing loss makes drivers less able to hear important cues – honking horns, screeching tires, emergency sirens – while driving. This is a problem especially for people who are unaware their hearing is going, people who lost their hearing recently, and people whose hearing is constantly changing. Solution: test your hearing every year (or if you suspect there’s a problem). Attend refresher-driving classes designed for seniors or the deaf.
• Loss of visual acuity. Even if your vision is normal, or corrected to normal, your eye has probably lost some contrast sensitivity (this is the ability to detect sharp borders and slight changes in lighting), which is critical to driving. Loss of contrast sensitivity can make it difficult to see road dividers, items in shady areas, at night, and on very bright days. Solution: Visit your eye-care specialist to find out how much contrast sensitivity you’ve lost. She may suggest special tinted lenses, a visor or cap, or a modification of your driving habits.
• Chronic diseases and physical impairment. Full range of motion is very important in driving. Arthritis, muscle degeneration, Parkinson’s disease, and other health problems can decrease your ability to perform all the movements of driving and to respond quickly to emergencies. Solution: Ask your health provider for an honest evaluation of how your physical condition will affect driving. If there’s a problem, attend a driving class conducted specifically for the disabled – these classes will help you modify your car and driving style to adapt to your changing physical needs.
• Medications. The elderly are more likely to be taking regular medications, and those medications are more likely to be the kinds that affect driving skills. For example, on any given day, 20% of seniors are driving under the effects of benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Librium, and others). These medications can seriously decrease your ability to drive safely, as can many others. Solution: Talk with your doctor about all the medications you’re taking, including over the counter ones, and how they might affect your driving.

For Americans, driving is an important part of independence. The loss of driving is second only to the loss of a spouse or a job for causing stress and unhappiness; giving up your keys can be a major psychological event.

However, even if you must limit or give up driving, you can still get around. You can walk, carpool, ride with friends and family, take taxis, take buses and trains, or use senior transit services. Senior transit services are often available through your local government, senior-service organizations, and religious groups.