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By Germaine L. Odenheimer, MD; USC School
of Medicine
Content Expert: Richard Marottoli, MD; Yale University School of
Medicine
Most people have had a close call with
another car, a person walking, or an object while driving. Many
people have also had car accidents. How do older adults and
caregivers know when these situations are cause for concern?
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Q. How old
is too old to drive?
A. People
can be great drivers or bad drivers at any age. Generally,
young, new drivers tend to have the worst driving records.
Experienced, middle-aged drivers are likely to have the best
driving records. Overall, older drivers are safe and make
appropriate adjustments for their abilities and limitations.
In fact, the total number of accidents that involve older
drivers is lower than for any other age group. However, the
number of accidents per mile driven goes up around age 60,
and gets much higher after 75.
Understand: older age doesn't cause accidents!
Many older adults take certain medicines and have conditions
that increase the risk of unsafe driving. Some conditions
that might be a factor in unsafe driving include: Alzheimer's
disease, vision problems, stroke, Parkinson's disease, arthritis,
and diabetes.
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Q. What are some signs
of unsafe driving?
A. Signs include:
- Stopping at a green light;
- Stopping when there is no sign to stop;
- Stopping in the middle of intersections;
- Mistaking the gas pedal for the brake pedal;
- Finding traffic signs and signals confusing;
- Running stop signs or red lights without
realizing it;
- Hitting or nearly hitting cars, people or
objects without realizing it;
- Getting lost in familiar places; and
- Moving from one lane to another without looking.
Q. What can people
do to be safer drivers?
A. Although
the risk of crashes and serious crash-related injuries usually
goes up as people get older, there are many steps that can be
taken at any age to drive more safely.
Steps include:
- Avoid driving at night, in heavy traffic,
and on unfamiliar roads;
- Know the rules of the road. They can be found
in a state driver's handbook;
- Take a driving class from a driving instructor
or a rehabilitation specialist; and
- Take a refresher course offered by
groups such as:
- AARP (formally known as the American
Association of Retired Persons);
- The Automobile Association of America
(AAA); or
- The National Safety Council
Q. Who can help figure
out if driving skills are a problem?
A. Rehabilitation
Centers (e.g., Vocational Rehabilitation Centers, Veterans Administration
Centers) usually provide the best driving evaluations. Driving
schools may help, but remember that they are not trained to recognize
or diagnose medical problems. State licensing agencies also give
driving evaluations.
Q. How can a health
care provider help address concerns about driving?
A. It is very
important that the doctor or other health care provider cares
and listens carefully to concerns about driving ability. Once
the issue is discussed, a thorough medical and medication review
should be conducted. This will help determine if there are treatable
problems that may be contributing to driving difficulties. Vision
and memory tests are important. Finally, the doctor or health
care provider may be able to suggest a driver's education/refresher
class. A person may also be referred to a driving evaluation program.
Q. What can caregivers do if they
are concerned about a loved one's driving?
A. This can
be the hardest issue that caregivers face as an older person develops
conditions that make them unfit to drive. It is important to recognize
how important driving is to many older people. It allows them
to go where they want. It is also a symbol of independence. Caregivers
need to be very clear about the specific problems that they have
noticed. Caregivers can look to health care providers for help.
Doctors and other health care providers can help find out if there
is a mental or physical problem that limits driving abilities.
Doctors can help affirm caregivers' concerns.
They may write a prescription, indicating that an older person
should not drive. They may also send a report to the state driver's
licensing agency. Many states respond to reports only when they
come from doctors or the police.
Q. What are some sources for more
information?
A. For information
on driver evaluation, driver education, and other transportation
choices, contact:
- Association for Driver Educators for the
Disabled: 1-608-884-8833 (www.driver-ed.org)
- AARP: 1-800-424-3410 (www.aarp.org)
- Alzheimer's Association: 1-800-272-3900 (www.alz.org)
- National Safety Council: 1-630-685-1121 (www.nsc.org)
Often, local aging centers and agencies are
the best source for information about local transportation programs.
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