Whether you love to drive or hate to drive, with the exception of a few large cities, it’s hard to live independently without driving. When we can drive anywhere we want anytime we want, we feel both self-sufficient and able to interact with our community.
As we age, most of us are eventually faced with curtailing our driving or eliminating it entirely. Since we age differently, some drivers are safe well into their 70s and 80s while others are not.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, drivers over 75 have the second-highest rate of fatal crashes per mile driven, second only to teenagers. Elderly people are more likely to receive citations for failing to yield, turning improperly, and running red lights and stop signs. In addition, when older drivers are in accidents, they’re more likely than younger drivers to suffer injuries or die.
It’s not unusual for people to be in denial about their driving proficiency. Family members are often the first to recognize that a senior isn’t driving safely. The web abounds with guidance for adult children who need to have “the car conversation.” Limits on driving can be especially hard for people who live alone, yet we need to have this conversation with ourselves.
Abilities Needed for Driving
Why do seniors have trouble? Driving requires many abilities that diminish as we age. Also, seniors often take medications which affect driving performance.
Vision: Depth perception and the ability to judge the speed of other cars diminish. As our eyes lose the ability to process light, driving at night becomes more challenging. Bright lights and glare are more distracting.
Hearing: Hearing loss happens gradually but by age 65, approximately 1/3 of people have some loss of hearing. Older people may not hear honking from other vehicles or emergency sirens. Did you ever get annoyed because someone left their turn signal flashing? It will soon be you.
Flexibility and rapid reaction time: A full range of motion is required to drive safely. You need to be able to put on your seat belt as well as check for oncoming cars in other lanes. Chronic conditions such as arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease and diabetes can lengthen reaction time and limit flexibility. People who have foot or leg problems are more likely to cause accidents.
Alertness: Many older people have trouble getting to sleep or sleeping all night and they’re drowsy during the day. Also, many medications cause drowsiness.
Good judgment: People with dementia or any kind of brain impairment can become confused and disoriented while driving. Dementia affects judgment, reaction time, and being able to solve problems at the wheel.
Self-Assessment
Where do you fall on the continuum of safe driving?
If you’re fully able to drive, you have good vision and hearing. Your reaction time is quick and you have good attention to all the traffic around you. Your body is flexible and you have full range of motion. Your braking time is short.
If you have minor limitations, such as imperfect vision, decreased attention, and reduced physical capabilities in certain areas, you may be able to mitigate them by using assistive devices or driving only at certain times of the day or on certain roads.
If you have mental impairments from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, slow reaction time, or dramatically deteriorated vision , you should probably stop driving altogether.
Use these Self-Assessment Questions to get a sense of whether or not you’re a safe driver. If you answer “yes” to many of the questions, you can try seeing a “driver rehabilitation specialist.” You can check to see if one is available in your area by going to the American Occupational Therapy Association website and using their searchable database. In many areas, it’ll be hard to find one. Your local hospital or rehab facility may be able to provide a reference for a local occupational therapist with special training in driving skills assessment and remediation.
Assistive Devices for Driving
As with other activities of life, adaptive devices can help you drive safely. Adjustments to your mirrors, steering wheel, seat, head restraint and seat belt can make you more comfortable and better able to maneuver. Cushions can alleviate back pain and help you see over the steering wheel. Make sure your seat belts lock and unlock easily so you don’t have to strain to use them. Use a steering wheel cover so you can grip it easily and feel less heat and cold from the weather.
You can adapt your vehicle with special equipment for steering and foot pedal operation. Panoramic rear and side mirrors will help you see traffic behind you. If your feet don’t move as well as they used to, you can get hand controls for braking and accelerating. Special devices on the steering wheel can help you grip the wheel and make turns. If one arm or leg is weaker, you can change the placement of turn signals and other steering devices. You can get touch pads, voice activation systems, or electronic joystick controls for steering, accelerating, and braking.
An occupational therapist or certified driving rehabilitation specialist can advise you on appropriate equipment, where to buy it and how to use it. Be sure to practice in familiar places before taking your car on the road.
Curtailing Driving and Finding Alternatives
If you have trouble driving at certain times or in certain places, you can curtail your driving in those situations. You may decide to drive only during the day or to avoid highways. You may stop driving during rush hour or under adverse weather conditions. If having other people in the car is distracting, you can decide to only drive alone.
Make a list of when you drive and for what purpose. How many tasks can you accomplish without driving? How many purchases can you make online? For a fee, some supermarkets will shop for you and deliver your groceries. Many service providers, including clergy, financial advisors, personal assistants and hairdressers, will come to your home for appointments. Most banking and bill payment activities can be handled online or by phone.
Find out about public transportation in your area: schedules, routes, costs and proximity to your home. Some communities offer senior discounts on public transportation. You can also hire taxis and chauffeur services in times of need. Some taxi companies offer discount coupons to seniors. Churches, senior centers and your local Area Agency on Aging may offer rides or shuttle service to those who can’t drive. Some Medicare Advantage plans cover transportation for some number of medical appointments.
Think about who lives nearby that you could carpool with. Which friends and neighbors can you accompany on shopping trips? Talk to your friends and acquaintances about carpooling to other events. Ask friends to visit you in your home instead of traveling to theirs.
At some point, you may have to choose between an increasingly restricted life at home or moving to a community that offers outings and social interactions. It may be easier to choose if you list the ways your life is limited by not driving.
Even if you stop driving, you may want to keep your car so others can use it to shop and take you to social activities and appointments. You can get a non-driver identification card with a photo ID from your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles
Resources
The AAA provides a fabulous web resource for older drivers, with everything from self-assessments to guides to assistive devices .
AARP has a Driver Safety Program that offers driver refresher courses (find a class near you). AARP also offers an online course for older drivers.
“Driving Safely While Aging Gracefully” is a booklet about the physical changes associated with aging, developed by AARP, USAA Educational Foundation, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It includes tips on staying a safe driver.
On a Personal Note
I grew up in NYC and didn’t bond with the car as a teenager. If living in Tucson without a car weren’t so limiting, I’d happily go without one. I’ve already stopped driving at night and on interstates.
Though I’ve restricted my driving to the point where it limits my life, it’s hard to think ahead to not driving at all. I’m sure I’ll want to keep driving as long as possible, even if only in a 10-mile radius between 9:30 and 10:30am. When I’m down to that, will it be time to move? I hope self-driving cars are available by then. I already want one.