ONE OF THE BIGGEST concerns for many people as they get older is how long they will be able to maintain their independence by being allowed to continue to drive.
Increasingly, authorities are looking at the effects of aging on our ability to drive, and that means they are also looking at removing licences from people they consider to be a risk to themselves or others on the roads.
Of course, responsible drivers will voluntarily surrender their licence when they recognise that their driving abilities are impaired to a degree that significantly affects their driving skills.
The fitter you are, the longer you’ll be able to drive
There is no hard and fast rule about when you should consider surrendering your licence. Like most things, it varies from person to person, but there are some things you can do to extend your driving life.
Staying fit and mentally alert is one of the most important.
Good Vision
It almost goes without saying but vision is a vital component in all aspects of driving.
It’s not a simple matter of “being able to see”. To drive safely, you need to have good long distance and near distance vision in order to identify road hazards, read road signs, observe pedestrians and other motorists and read your dashboard.
How clearly or accurately you can see is called visual acuity.
There are many conditions that affect visual acuity, especially as we age.
Some of the conditions include:
- Colour Blindness and Cataracts. These may cause problems in identifying traffic signals, brake lights or indicators. Regular eye tests can identify these conditions and initiate treatment or correction.
- Decreased Sensitivity to Contrast. Objects that are not outlined clearly or don’t stand out from the background become more difficult to identify as contrast sensitivity is decreased. This results in drivers not seeing pedestrians or road signs, and it’s worse when road lighting is poor or conditions are bad (such as in rain or fog).
- Decreased Useful Field of View. While you may be able to take in information visually when you have plenty of time to do so, when driving, you need to be able to process a vast amount of information with a brief glance, using both eyes. Our ability to process information slows with age, particularly when the surrounding environment is complex, such as a busy roadway or a freeway.
- Decreased Depth Perception and Peripheral Vision. When driving, it is critical to be able to judge the distance of objects in relation to ourselves, and to see outside our immediate field of vision. Both tend to decrease with age and make it more difficult to judge the distance and speed of approaching cars when merging or pulling out from an intersection.
Regular eye examinations alert you to reductions in your visual acuity, let you take action to treat or correct them and help keep you sharp and ready for the road.
Brain Health
As we age, our ability to quickly assess and react appropriately to the demands of driving are reduced. The conditions may be as simple as fatigue, or as complex as Alzheimer’s, and like most things associated with aging, they develop slowly so you may not even be aware of the deterioration.
Your ability to carry out the following processes should be assessed, professionally if necessary, to determine your fitness to drive:
- Attention and reaction time
- Concentration (paying attention to changes in your driving environment)
- Ability to process information quickly and accurately
- Problem-solving skills (how to get help if you have a flat tyre, for instance)
- Memory (how to get to the doctor’s office)
Stimulate your brain by trying new activities. Try testing your memory and problem-solving skills, even with something as simple as taking a new route to a familiar location. A study by the U.S. National Institute of Health recently found that people who had cognitive training for memory, reasoning or speed of processing had 50 percent fewer car accidents than those in the control group.
Stay Focused
Driving is a demanding activity that requires your full attention to many things at the same time. This is important at any age, but especially as we get older. Eliminate distractions inside the vehicle and minimize activities that require you to take your eyes off the road or take both hands off the wheel, especially in heavy traffic.
- Put your mobile phone on silent and tuck it away so you are not tempted to answer a text or phone call while driving.
- Try pre-setting your radio with your favourite radio stations—you won’t have to look away from the road to change the station.
- Refrain from eating, drinking and smoking while driving.
These important tips will keep you sharp and ready to drive! Driving is demanding, so take measures to ensure good vision, brain health, and reduce distractions while on the road.
In an earlier article, we addressed the issue of when you should consider surrendering your driving licence, and how the rules vary from State to State. You can read it here.
If you’d like to learn more about issues affecting older drivers, retirement, health, superannuation, travel and much, much more, subscribe to YourLifeChoices (it’s free) at https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/ and listen to the podcast (including interviews with seniordriveraus) hosted by Kaye Fallick and John Deeks at https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/podcasts/mind-your-own-retirement