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Safe Driving for Older Adults

The idea of giving up driving is unpleasant for most older adults. It is also not easy for their families. Driving represents independence. It provides the ability to visit friends, go to the movies, and shop without relying on anyone else.

Driving skills vary widely at all ages. There are, however, special concerns about health and safety for drivers over the age of 80.

Health Concerns

Poor vision. Many vision problems become more common with age. These include cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. This may cause problems with glare from oncoming headlights, streetlights, or shiny objects, especially at dawn, dusk, and at night. A yearly eye exam is important for elderly drivers. Ask the health care provider about driving, and don't take the word of the elderly driver on the results of her exam.

Poor hearing. Something as simple as earwax can create hearing loss. Being unable to hear sirens or horns is very dangerous. A health care provider can identify hearing problems and offer solutions.

Poor flexibility and limited range of motion. Drivers must be able to turn their head, neck, and shoulders while driving or parking. If this is not possible, they may not see oncoming vehicles or obstacles in the car's blind spot.

Loss of muscle strength. Drivers may have too little strength to turn the wheel quickly in an emergency.

Slower reaction time. As we age, reaction times drop. Allowing extra space between cars helps reduce the chance of accidents, but there comes a time when reactions are too slow for road safety.

Less ability to focus or concentrate. Medicines might make a driver drowsy, confused, or very nervous while driving. Diseases such as Alzheimer's disease may cause drivers to get lost or to forget to do things such as turn on headlights after dusk.

A health care provider can evaluate the older adult to see if any health problems could cause problems with driving.

Safety concerns

An elderly person may be an unsafe driver if they:

Ask passengers to help check if it is clear to pass or turn.
Cannot judge distances between cars correctly.
Drift across lane markings or bump into curbs.
Drive either too fast or too slow.
Fail to yield to other cars or pedestrians who have the right-of-way.
Disregard signs of mechanical problems.
Ignore, disobey, or misinterpret street signs and traffic lights.
Do not notice or respond slowly to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers.

Driving without danger

There are many ways for elderly drivers to adjust so they are not a danger to themselves or others. Among them are:

Avoid driving at night and, if possible, at dawn or dusk.
Drive only to familiar locations and avoid driving to places far away from home.
Avoid highways and rush hour traffic.
Avoid driving alone.
Take a refresher course on driving. Courses and informative pamphlets are available from the AARP and AAA.
Rely more on public transportation. Many cities offer special discounts for seniors on buses and trains. Senior centers and community service agencies may provide vans or other options. You can enjoy the scenery while someone else does the driving.

When it is time to stop driving

If you feel strongly that someone cannot drive safely, you should try to get them to stop driving.

Confront the elderly driver. Elderly drivers might get defensive or angry when you raise the subject of their driving abilities. It helps if you include family members, health care providers, clergy, and anyone else respected by the senior. It is best to include the elderly person in the decision-making process if at all possible, rather than make the decision for them.
Contact the local Department of Motor Vehicles and report your concerns. Depending upon state regulations and the person's disabilities, it may be illegal for them to continue to drive. The DMV may require them to take physical or mental exams or retake vision, written, and road licensing tests. After reviewing a person's fitness to drive, the licensing agency may suspend, revoke, or restrict the license. Typical restrictions prohibit nighttime driving, require the vehicle to have additional mirrors, or restrict driving to specific places or distances from the driver's home.
Take the keys, disable the car, or move it to a location beyond the elderly person's control. Leave the headlights on all night or disconnect the battery to disable the car. While this may seem extreme, it can save lives.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File AGI3041F.HTM Release 9.0/2006