How age affects your ability to drive and what you can do about it

Did you know that older adults are more likely to receive tickets and get into accidents than other drivers? This is because for some, decreased vision, hearing impairments, slower reflexes and other medical issues can get in the way of driving safely.

Stay on top of health concerns
Age doesn’t automatically make someone an unsafe driver. Nevertheless, some individuals may not recognize that their driving capabilities have diminished. Here’s what you can do to ensure that you’re able to keep driving safely.

• Get your vision and hearing checked yearly, and make sure corrective devices like glasses and hearing aids are kept up to date.

• Exercise regularly in order to keep your body nimble and able to perform necessary driving movements like shoulder checks and moving your foot from one pedal to the other.

• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any medications you’re taking and whether they can impair driving.

Amend your driving habits
If driving is starting to make you nervous, altering your habits may be what you need to regain your confidence behind the wheel. Consider switching from a manual car to an automatic for ease of driving. It may also be a good idea to stay off the road at night and in bad weather. To avoid getting lost, use a GPS or plan your route before leaving the house.

Know when to stop driving
If you’ve been in an increasing number of accidents or near accidents, observed dents in your car that you can’t explain or noticed other drivers frequently honking at you, it may be time to take a refresher course in driving. Alternatively, it may be the right moment to give up your car entirely.