Staying Safe Behind the Wheel

How Does
Age Affect Driving?

Physical Changes

As people age, joints may stiffen and muscles weaken. Turning your head to look back or steering and braking the car may become difficult. Vision problems include cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Mental Changes

Reflexes may be slower, and it may be more difficult to focus your attention. You may have a hard time doing two things at once –– something you have to do to drive safely.

Health Problems

Dementia causes serious memory, personality and behavioral problems that can impair driving. Other illnesses common among older people such as arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, depression, or stroke, can affect driving. Diabetes may cause nerve damage in your hands, legs, or eyes or may put you at risk of losing consciousness.

Medications

Older adults often have one or more long-term illnesses and may be taking several different drugs. A combination of medicines can increase the effects of each drug on the body. Drugs that might interfere with driving include sleep aids, medicine to treat depression, antihistamines, strong pain-killers, and diabetes medications. If you are taking one or more of them, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

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