According to the National Safety Council, there has been an uptick in deaths involving drivers over the age of 65 in recent years. In addition to deaths, injuries are often more severe and long-lasting in older adults. Unfortunately, many of these accidents are caused by seniors who continue to drive even though their eyesight and reactions have worsened over the years. While age alone does not indicate driving capability, elders suffer from ailments and injuries that make driving more difficult at higher rates. If your parent continues to drive when they know they shouldn’t, you have a duty to help them learn to understand the dangers and find alternative ways to meet their transport needs.
Conditions That Make Driving Dangerous
As mentioned, age by itself can not be looked at to determine if someone is safe to drive. Many older Americans are perfectly capable of operating a vehicle the way they did in their younger years. However, if your parent has any of the following conditions, you may want to talk to them about their driving habits to keep them and everyone around them safe.
Vision Problems: Naturally, bad eyesight and vision problems are near the top of the list, as a clear view of the road is paramount for safe driving. According to the National Eye Institute, Americans aged 80 and above make up nearly three-quarters of blind people in this country, despite being only 8 percent of the population. Even in people who never had vision problems in their youth, old age tends to worsen vision, sometimes without the person noticing a change. If you suspect your parent has worsening vision, encourage them to see an eye doctor and take a vision test.
Reaction Speed: Even if you clearly see the road and follow the speed limit, there is no doubt that most drivers have prevented an accident through quick reactions alone when another driver made an unexpected move. Older people generally have slower reactions and may be unable to react to a sudden change in driving situations, whereas a younger adult could. Even if faster reactions can not wholly eliminate an accident, a quicker application of the car brakes can significantly reduce injuries stemming from the accident.
Hearing Problems: While most people would agree that good eyesight is the most integral part of driving, a lack of hearing has the potential to be just as dangerous as closing your eyes. Being able to hear sirens, honks, and train horns can save you from accidents where your eyesight cannot help. In fact, your eyes might actively work against you in these situations when you can hear a siren but can’t see any approaching vehicles in your mirror.
There is no simple test you can give your parent to determine if they are still capable of driving. Most people who shouldn’t be on the road are, on the surface, still able to drive – they simply are at a higher risk of accidents. Some specific things to look for to determine if health conditions are affecting your parent’s driving are:
- Scratches and dents on their vehicle
- An increase in traffic tickets
- Misaligned car when they park
Of course, if you ever see them driving in person, you should also try to identify if they swerve, accelerate, and brake randomly, ignore the road rules, and other warning signs of impaired drivers. Your parent’s lifestyle might dictate that they drive, even when unsafe. If your parent needs additional help in their daily life – transport, caretaking, companionship – it might be time to consider an assisted living facility.
A Banyan Residence is an assisted living and memory care facility located in Venice, Florida. Contact us today for a free tour of our campus and facility.
