Don’t be quick to pre-judge older drivers. New evidence offers some surprises

Q. My parent is 78 years aged and successful bully health. This past twelvemonth she has had a fewer fender benders and that concerns me. This is not emblematic for her. I cognize that astir older radical halt driving astatine immoderate point. How bash I cognize erstwhile it is clip to person the speech with her astir giving up her keys? Many thanks. D.L.

Your interest is valid yet it’s important not to travel to the “give up your keys” decision excessively quickly. 

A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recovered immoderate unexpected results. Drivers successful their 70s had little clang rates than middle-aged drivers. They not lone had less car crashes but besides had a 43 percent driblet successful fatal accidents from 1997 to 2018. Even though older persons thrust less miles than younger drivers, the survey recovered that these older drivers had a amended information grounds per mile compared to their younger counterparts. Note your parent is simply a lawsuit of 1 truthful it’s important not to basal a determination regarding her driving quality based connected the results of a ample probe study.

There are immoderate explanations for these astonishing findings. Older adults are healthier and their vehicles are safer. Journalist Jane Brody suggests successful the Oct. 19, 2021, New York Times nonfiction “Keeping Older Drivers Protected connected the Road” several much reasons for these improved statistics. Roadway plan has improved that includes amended signage and postulation patterns. Also, older adults typically are experienced drivers, which helps them to amended measure risks and enhances their quality to respond safely to challenges connected the road. Unlike younger drivers, older drivers mostly are little apt to portion and thrust and little apt to speed, disregard roadworthy signs oregon thrust successful atrocious upwind oregon astatine nighttime compared to younger drivers, writes Brody. 

This bully quality does not mean we tin disregard the interaction of mean oregon accustomed aging. 

Changes successful our body. As we age, immoderate of our joints whitethorn get stiff and muscles whitethorn go weaker. Turning our heads to look implicit our shoulders whitethorn go difficult. Our movements whitethorn beryllium slower and little accurate. Vision changes. We request further airy and are much delicate to glare from different cars. Visual problems specified arsenic cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma are much prevalent. And absorption clip slows with age.

Changes successful the mode we think. With expanding age, focusing connected much than 1 happening astatine a clip whitethorn instrumentality effort. A harmless operator indispensable instrumentality successful caller accusation from galore sources and past enactment upon that information, often with velocity and accuracy. 

Health problems. Illnesses, arsenic opposed to mean aging, tin impact our quality to drive. Arthritis, Parkinson’s illness oregon changeable whitethorn marque it much hard to grip a car safely. Sleep deprivation oregon nervus harm successful one’s hands oregon feet caused by diabetes besides are hazard factors successful driving.

Medications. Older Americans instrumentality much medicine drugs than immoderate different property group, peculiarly for chronic illnesses. Drugs specified arsenic slumber aids, medicine to dainty depression, antihistamines and beardown painkillers tin impact driving ability.

Many of these obstacles to harmless driving tin beryllium flooded oregon astatine slightest mediated by yearly carnal check-ups that see investigating of one’s imaginativeness and proceeding and incorporating exercises oregon activities that assistance support one’s strengths and flexibility. 

AARP offers immoderate informing signs of unsafe driving. These see having a delayed effect to unexpected situations, being easy distracted, having trouble moving into oregon maintaining the close lane of traffic, getting scrapes oregon dents and having predominant adjacent calls. 

Here are immoderate driver-safety resources that mightiness beryllium useful: AARP offers classes and a Smart Driver online course. In the South Bay, The Center for Optimal Aging astatine Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center, San Pedro provides driving valuation services. A doctor’s bid is required. Call (310) 514-5370. Unfortunately, the driving valuation programme is not covered by Medicare. Check retired different similar services successful your community.

Thank you, D.L., for your important question. Consider having a speech with your parent astir your concerns and besides thrust with her and observe her driving, taking enactment of the informing signs. Albert Einstein reminds america astir the complexity of driving astatine immoderate age: “Any antheral who tin thrust safely portion kissing a beauteous miss is simply not giving the buss the attraction it deserves.” Safe driving, everyone! 

Helen Dennis is simply a nationally recognized person connected issues of aging, employment and the caller status with academic, firm and nonprofit experience. Contact Helen with your questions and comments astatine Helendenn@gmail.com. Visit Helen astatine HelenMdennis.com and travel her connected facebook.com/SuccessfulagingCommunity