Auto-Related Accidents

Auto-related accidents are the most common cause of accidental death among the 65 to 74 age group, and the second most common cause among older persons in general. Today, drivers 65 and older have higher crash rates per mile than all other groups except teenagers. Your ability to drive may be impaired by such age-related changes as:

• hearing changes
• difficulty with night vision
• effects of medication
• diminished cognitive abilities
• reaction time changes
• failure to personally accept the consequences of ageing upon functional abilities

Change Your Driving Habits

If you're at all uneasy on the road, think about changing how, when, and where you drive. Try driving fewer miles, less often, and more slowly. Plan your trips more carefully by calling ahead. Drive less at night, during rush hours, and in the winter.

Consider a Refresher Course

In many communities, organizations offer driver education courses for older people.

Wear Your Seat Belt

When riding in a car to prevent a crippling injury or death in the event of a crash. Older drivers have fewer accidents per mile driven, but they are more likely to be injured or killed due to more fragile bones and a reduced ability to withstand the trauma of an accident. Safety belts distribute the full force of the impact across the strongest parts of your body, help prevent you from hitting the steering wheel, the windows, or the dash, and help to keep you from being thrown from the vehicle. Avoid excessive slack in the belt and position it over the shoulder, across the chest, and low on the lap. And remember, in Alberta it is not only a good idea to use safety belts, it is the law.

Check Your Eyesight and Hearing

Physical changes in eyesight and hearing occur as we get older and can affect our driving ability. Over one third of all older persons experience hearing loss that make it more difficult to hear in busy traffic. Many different visual problems can occur, such as:

• Don't ignore changes in vision. Have your eyes checked regularly by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
• You may become more sensitive to glare, and adapt more slowly to darkness.
• You may have more difficulty changing focus from distant to near objects and vice versa.
• You may need more light to see well.
• You may be more susceptible to headlight glare and bright sunlight.
• Your reaction time will slow.
• Your ability to see to the side while looking ahead (peripheral awareness) may diminish.
• Your ability to quickly and accurately distinguish colours may diminish. It makes a major difference at a traffic light.
• You may experience a decrease in sharpness of vision under certain lighting conditions.

• Try to notice changes in your hearing. Have your hearing checked regularly.
• Allow time to adjust to your hearing aid if you wear one.
• If talking while driving distracts you, ask passengers to be considerate of this.
• In some situations, leaving your window partially open will allow you to hear warning signals more clearly.
• Keep radio noise to an absolute minimum.
• Place the air conditioner or heater on the lowest setting if possible.
• Make good use of your vision to back up what you are hearing. Check mirrors, shoulder check, watch for flashing lights at railroad crossing and from emergency vehicles.

Visual Driving Tips

• Have proper glasses for day and night driving (there may be a difference).
• Do not wear sunglasses or tinted lenses for night driving.
• In sunlight, wear good quality sunglasses.
• Avoid driving at dusk or at night.
• Keep glasses clean.
• Avoid frames with wide side (temple) pieces, as they block side vision.
• Get the big picture when driving. Watch the road ahead and check either side for vehicles, children, animals, or hazards.
• Keep your head and eyes moving. Glance frequently in the rear-view mirror and at the instrument panel.
• Keep pace with average traffic flow.
• Choose a car with a clear windshield. A tinted one can reduce the amount of light entering the eye. It is better to have a clear windshield and wear good sunglasses in bright sunlight.
• Keep headlights properly adjusted.
• Keep headlights, taillights, and windshield (both inside and out) clean as well as side windows.

Drugs and Driving

Many drugs can influence your driving vision. These include prescription cold and sinus remedies, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, sedatives, painkillers, and of course, prescription drugs for any conditions. Whatever the drug, know its side effects before getting behind the wheel.

• Take medication in the prescribed amounts and at the specified intervals.
• Take the safe route with medicine and ask your doctor or pharmacist what to expect. If you take more than one type of medication, ask whether the combination produces side effect that could interfere with your driving.
• Keep in mind that alcohol can increase the effects of certain drugs to a danger point. Serious adverse reactions can occur.

Keeping Fit - Flexibility is a Must

Maturity often brings with it a change in physical mobility. For example., can you still easily turn your head from side to side when changing lanes, or to the rear when backing up or making turns? Is there weakness in your arms or legs that interferes with accelerating, braking and steering?

Age and/or medical related changes in your cartilage, ligaments, bones and muscles, decreases your ability to perform the physical motions needed for safe driving. Adults with arthritis or osteoporosis can also have limited movement and painful or restricted movements that can cause serious driving problems. Maintaining a healthy active lifestyle will help to eliminate some of these problems.

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January 2004