Safe Driving

For many older adults, their driver's licence is a symbol of independence, mobility and freedom. I recall my elderly father-in-law continuing to drive even when his physical weakness barely allowed him to climb in and out of the car, and when his reflexes were so poor he crashed into the front window of a gas station. That event frightened him so much that he finally realized he should no longer be behind the wheel of a car.  He was well into his 80s when he finally stopped driving, and it broke his heart. In the years prior to this, he did make alteratons to his driving habits to try to compensate for his declining abilities.  He would only go out during daylight hours, stayed on lightly travelled roads and avoided rush hour traffic.  We never really had the discussion with him about giving up his licence, nor did his doctor who was well aware of his weakening physical and cognitive condition. It's a tough conversation to have with a strong-willed, independent man, which is why so many of us put it off and hope for the best..

Age is not the sole reason for giving up a driver's licence.  Health-related factors that can affect a person of any age certainly contribute to that decision. However, it is just a fact that as we age we may experience changes like hearing loss, vision problems that may make it difficult to drive safely, slower reaction times, difficulty judging distances or disorientation when facing a complex traffic situation. Following are some questions to consider if you, or a loved one, appears to be having some difficulty when driving.

• Am I experiencing an increasing number of collisions?
• Have I been directly involved in minor collisions?
• Do I have difficulty driving through intersections, judging distances, or seeing pedestrians, road signs or other vehicles?
• Do I have difficulty concentrating while driving?
• Do I get lost or disoriented on familiar roads?
• Do I have difficulty co-ordinating hand and foot movements?
• Am I experiencing vision problems, especially at night?
• Do I get nervous behind the wheel?
• Do other motorists frequently honk at me?
• Do family members express concern about my driving ability? 

How you answer these questions can help you decide if you should change your driving habits or give up driving completely.  There are several ways in which an older driver can make some changes to their driving habits that will make them safer on the roads.

• Plan your route.
• Always wear your safety belt.
• Drive during daylight hours if possible, especially if your night vision is limited.
• Avoid driving in bad weather.
• Use familiar roads. Avoid heavily travelled roads and peak traffic periods if these conditions make you nervous.
• Stay alert. Be aware of pedestrians, bicycles and other vehicles that share the road and be ready for unexpected actions.
• Pay attention to traffic signals and other vehicles when approaching intersections.
• Leave enough distance between you and the vehicle ahead that will allow you to stop quickly if needed.
• Stay in your lane.
• Avoid medications that make you drowsy, and don't drive when you're tired, ill or under stress.
• Use alternatives to driving such as public transit, car pooling, volunteer driver programs, friends or family who drive, taxis or walking.

Ontario has a Senior Driver Licence Renewal Program for drivers 80 years of age and older, which requires them to renew their licence every two years. This program requires the individual to pay the application fee, complete a vision test, a written test on the rules of the road and signs, and take part in a group education session. A road test will be required only if an individual is deemed to pose a risk to road safety. This determination is made by a trained counsellor based on a review of the individual's driving record and performance in the group education session.  

It may also be helpful for older adults to brush up on their knowledge of safe driving practices by taking a drivers course.  In Ottawa, the Senior Citizens Council regularly offers a 55-Alive Mature Driving Course.  This is an informative classroom course to help 55+ adults gain more confidence behind the wheel, improve their awareness of traffic hazards, update their knowledge of traffic laws and new technology, identify and correct bad driving habits and voice their concersn in a friendly  relaxed environment.  For information on when the 55+ driving courses are being offered, call the Senior Citizens Council at 613-234-8044 or go to their website at www.seniorcouncil.org.

When it comes to safe driving as we age, it is important to be honest with ourselves about any health risks that my impact our driving ability, or our general decline in physical, cognitive and perceptual abilities that accompany the natural aging process.  We must also be more foreright with our loved ones when we see their driving skills decline to the point where they might be a risk to themselves or other road users.  It's a tough discussion to have, but it is certainly important.  Let's all do our part to keep everyone safe on the roads.

Discussion Question:  What role should doctors play in deciding when an older adult should give up their driver's licence?  If the doctor feels the older adult poses a serious risk to him/herself or others, should the doctor be obligated to notify the drivers licencing bureau to have the licence revoked?