There is no legal age to stop driving, but it is vital to be aware of pitfalls, so you can keep yourself and others safe on the road.
With Baby Boomers now in their 70s and 80s, there are more elderly drivers on the road now than ever before. And while statistically speaking, drivers over the age of 65 are far less likely to get into an accident than drivers under the age of 20, data is showing an increase in crash rates for adults over 70.
Of course, it’s no surprise that aging does make driving a car more difficult, especially at night and under stressful situations like heavy traffic. But there is no set age to stop driving. It all depends on an individual’s mental and physical health.
“There’s such a huge emotional impact for older adults as they face giving up driving,” says attorney Mike Agruss. “Some senior citizens seem to know when it’s time to call it quits. However, some feel that they’re losing their freedom, or may have limited access to public transportation. With the need to get to doctors’ appointments, it often leads to continuing to drive.”
Luckily, new services like Uber Health and senior transportation firms are helping shift that dialogue, so it’s no longer just about giving up the keys, but rather about how to transition safely and still have autonomy and quality of life, says driving solutions specialist Anam Barkan.
As you age, here’s how to gauge your safety on the road, understand your risks and driving limitations, and what steps to take to mitigate them.
Driving Risks as You Age
As we age, both our physical and cognitive health wain, and that negatively affects driving safety. Hearing and vision are two big issues. Beyond obvious problems like cataracts and macular degeneration, older eyes have decreased contrast sensitivity, which makes it harder for them to adapt to tricky driving conditions, like glare from headlights and rain. Our peripheral vision also gets worse, which makes us less likely to see cars in the lane next to us.
Our reaction times also decrease with age, which means we may not respond as quickly to hazards such as a child dashing out into the road or another vehicle suddenly cutting lanes, says Barkan. “On the cognitive side, even mild impairment can interfere with multitasking, spatial acuity and quick decision-making, all essential to navigate through busy intersections or unmapped roads,” she says.
Impairments like joint stiffness, arthritis and weakening muscles can also make the physical act of driving more difficult, especially with motions like turning one’s head to look for blind spots, hitting the brakes and making quick turns. Certain medications used to treat these conditions can also cause side effects like drowsiness, which jeopardize driving safety.
Tips for Driving Safely as You Age
For Complete Cooking STEPS Please Head On Over To Next Page Or Open button (>) and don’t forget to SHARE with your Facebook friends.
