What To Do When Your Driving Skills Change With Age

Did you know your ability to see at night begins to diminish during your 40s? In addition, headlight glare becomes twice as blinding by your 60s, which increases nighttime driving risks.

Throughout life, your driving abilities can change as your reaction time slows, your vision worsens, and your coordination becomes more challenging. Even though these changes are normal, you don’t need to give up driving immediately. You can continue driving by spotting the warning signs early and acting to improve your driving conditions. 

This article discusses how aging impacts driving abilities and offers safety tips and advice to help navigate this challenge. Read on to learn how to enjoy safer driving regardless of age or health limitations.

7 Ways to Improve Driving for Older Adults

The following seven tips can help you stay safe: 

1. Get Regular Vision and Hearing Tests

Aging can lead to gradual vision and hearing issues, including reduced night vision and increased glare sensitivity. Some older adults may even have challenges hearing sirens and horns. 

If you experience any of this, it’s advisable for you to go to a professional for testing. Eye exams can detect vision problems such as cataracts and glaucoma. Likewise, hearing tests can check your ability to hear critical road sounds.

Based on your test results, you may need to start using eyeglasses, contacts, or hearing aids. These devices may help boost your awareness and can give you more time to react to driving events. Make it a priority to have checkups at least annually and pay attention to small changes that might affect your ability to drive safely.

2. Take a Defensive Driving Course 

Older adult drivers who complete a defensive driving course can refresh their driving skills and learn techniques to adjust for physical changes. Defensive driving courses teach drivers skills such as blind spot management and adapting to slower reaction speeds while building confidence in traffic management. 

These programs often also offer updates on vehicle safety features. Drivers can learn how to operate advanced systems such as “lane assist,” “automatic braking” or “adaptive cruise control.” Drivers who complete these courses may receive a discount on their auto insurance premiums in some states, which can make taking a course a financial benefit. 

If you want to enhance your driving knowledge and skills, do consider enrolling in either online or in-person courses that can improve your awareness and confidence.

3. Plan Routes With Less Traffic and Fewer Left Turns

Driving in high-traffic zones and through complicated intersections often creates increased risk due to the many events happening all at once, which can make it hard to react in time. Making left turns demands precise decision-making and is one of the most common factors in older adult collisions. 

Plan your driving routes to minimize left turns and stay away from crowded areas, especially at high speeds. GPS applications that provide current traffic information can help you find simpler routes. Driving in good weather during the day and reducing nighttime driving can maximize your visibility and lower the risk of being blinded by glare.

Avoiding rush hour traffic reduces driving pressure and enhances safety for older adult drivers. When possible, use roads with dedicated turn lanes or traffic control devices like stop lights and roundabouts. Making small changes to your route can make a big difference in your driving experience.

4. Adjust Your Vehicle for Comfort and Visibility 

Correct vehicle adjustments lead to better control and visibility. It also delivers superior driving comfort. Try adjusting your seat to allow easy pedal access and maintain a safe distance from the steering wheel. Reduce blind spots by adjusting your mirrors, and consider installing a wide-angle rearview mirror to expand your visibility.  

CarFit is a free, national educational program developed by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and AARP that teaches how to enhance your comfort, safety, and fit within your vehicle. Occupational therapists are the majority of formally trained driving rehabilitation specialists. CarFit events are held across the nation, where trained experts are onsite to help you adjust the fit of your vehicle.  

People with arthritis or stiffness in their joints can install a steering wheel cover, which may improve their grip when turning the wheel becomes challenging. Installing features such as backup cameras and blind-spot monitors in your vehicle can also improve safety. Perform routine checks on your headlights, wipers, and defrosters to maintain visibility during all weather conditions.

5. Exercise to Maintain Strength and Flexibility

Safe driving depends on good physical and cognitive health because you need to be able to react fast and coordinate your movements well. When driving, be sure to avoid using medications or other substances that make you sleepy, slow, or feel less sharp in your thinking

Consistent physical exercise preserves your strength to steer. It also facilitates your mobility so you can press the pedals smoothly with the right amount of pressure. Practicing basic exercises such as stretching, walking, or strength training can lead to positive outcomes. 

If you wish to improve your wheel control, try grip-strengthening hand exercises. Neck and shoulder stretches will help improve your ability to scan traffic through better head movement. Physical activity also improves the blood supply to your brain.  The mental benefits of exercise may help you drive better and make wiser choices behind the wheel.

6. Use Public Transportation or Rideshare Services

Public transportation and rideshare services are useful alternatives when driving becomes too stressful or unsafe. Buses, trains, and shuttles can provide affordable transportation solutions for routine errands and scheduled meetings. 

Rideshare applications such as Uber and Lyft, on the other hand, feature direct door-to-door service. This allows you to reduce walking distances, avoid parking problems, and simplify route navigation.

Some communities or transit systems run older adult transportation programs that operate accessible vehicles, such as Dial-A-Ride. Another example in Washington, DC, is the Senior SmarTrip® card, which allows older adults to ride Metrorail at half the peak fare, and Metrobus for $1.00 on regular routes. Using these services from time to time may reduce the burden of driving.

7. Know When It’s Time to Stop Driving Altogether

Letting go of driving is a difficult decision, but safety must come first for yourself, your passengers, and others in your driving environment. If you’ve had frequent near misses while driving or you’re finding it increasingly difficult to navigate intersections or leave space between vehicles, it may be time to call it quits.

When driving becomes too stressful or friends and family members voice their worries about your ability to drive safely, then it’s time to consider different transportation options. We have almost all made a transportation plan before when unable to drive ourselves, such as for a medical procedure or when the car is in the shop for repairs. Making a transportation plan for how to go where you want, when you want, keeps you in control of your activities. Plan For The Road Ahead is a website which provides a roadmap for successfully retiring from driving. The transition away from driving becomes more manageable when you gradually reduce the frequency of your driving instead of stopping all at once.

Conclusion 

Keeping an eye on your driving abilities and taking preventive measures will help maintain your safety and independence as long as possible. Consulting with a medical or driving professional may be helpful to optimize your health and driving ability. Other adjustments, like altering your driving paths or learning defensive driving techniques, may help you go a long way in preserving older adult driving skills.