How Getting Older Can Affect Your Driving Skills
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Driving is a means of independence and enjoyment for many people, so it can be a big adjustment for some elderly people when getting behind the wheel becomes more challenging.
As the years advance, naturally, many of us can experience health challenges that make it more difficult to drive.
Difficulties can be overcome, though! Plenty of older people continue to thrive behind the wheel. Elderly people can sometimes be tempted to give up driving when they have to renew their licence at age 70, but often a bit of refresher training with a professional instructor can do the world of good.
If you don’t have access to a vehicle, you could always borrow the car of a friend or family member, just remember to ensure that you have their permission and valid temporary car insurance so that you are fully covered.
Some common issues crop up for eolder drivers but fear not, we’re here to talk through what they are and how to approach them.
Reaction Times
It is a sad fact that we are unlikely to be able to react as quickly at 75 years of age as we could when we were 25. Conditions common among elderly people like arthritis can also affect our ability to react as quickly as we once could.
Keeping your mind healthy and training your brain may assist you in the long run. Playing games such as Sudoku, timed games such as Candy Crush Saga, and some word searches that keep your brain active and aware of such timers and obstacles are key to a healthy mind.
That said, with proper driving techniques, most people are still able to drive perfectly safely in their advanced years.
Vision
Declining quality of eyesight is a common impact of ageing. Conditions like glaucoma and cataracts are just two of the many eye conditions that can become more common among elderly people.
An impaired vision is a big problem when driving, primarily in terms of your general view of the road, but also when checking blind spots and being aware of pedestrians or cars in your peripheral vision.
The best solution is to seek professional advice on the best option, ranging from prescription glasses or contact lenses, all the way up to corrective eye surgery.
Hearing
One common effect of advancing age is for hearing problems to occur.
Being able to hear your surroundings is important when driving. For example, for safety reasons, you need to be able to hear an emergency services vehicle in the distance. As an alternative example, you need to be able to hear if a fellow motorist is beeping their horn to warn you of something.
Some can be reluctant to wear hearing aids, perhaps thinking that they might stand out while wearing them. Many hearing aids are now so small that you can barely see them – wearing a pair could make driving a much safer experience and make everyday life much more enjoyable!
Photo by Prakriti Khajuria on Unsplash
