Driving tips for the elderly

Are you 65 years of age or older? Well it may be time for you to think about things that might make driving more difficult for you. We’ll, according to the Transport Accident Commission's website, http://www.tacsafety.com.au, assessing your driving skills, and being aware of early warning signs is the best way to make sure you’re not putting yourself, and your loved ones, at risk on the road.

Here’s a checklist to help you assess how safe a driver you are.

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be time for you to think about modifying your driving behaviour to minimise your chance of being involved in an accident.

Do you:
  • suffer from any serious health conditions such as arthritis, epilepsy, a heart condition, high blood pressure or anxiety?
  • take medication that may impair their driving?
  • have difficulty reacting quickly to other drivers’ actions?
  • drive at inappropriate speeds, either too fast or too slow?
  • regularly need your passengers to give you directions, such as when it is clear to pass?
  • ignore or misinterpret traffic signs and signals?
  • fail to judge distances between cars correctly?
  • become easily flustered or angry?
  • have difficulty with glare of oncoming headlights, streetlights or other bright or shiny objects, especially at dawn, dusk and at night?
  • find it hard to turn their head, neck, shoulders or body while in traffic or parking?
  • had one or more near accidents?
  • Do you feel exhausted after driving for an hour or more?
  • Do you have difficulty maintaining concentration while driving?
  • Do your passengers warn you about things on the road you may not have seen, or have seen too late?
  • Are you uncomfortable in heavy traffic?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions above, you should seriously consider ways to improve your safety on the road.

There are some easy steps you can take that’ll help keep you on the road for longer.
  • Use public transport or drive to the closest, most convenient form of public transport
  • Try to limit driving to off-peak periods
  • Plan shorter driving periods, and rest along the way
  • Try to drive only in daylight hours
  • Try to avoid non signalled right hand turns where possible
  • Get a few refresher driving lessons
  • Don’t drive if you’ve been drinking, or have taken medication
Managing the risks

Here are some suggestions that will help you to adjust your driving; so that you are not putting yourselves or others in danger:
  • have your eyes tested at least once every two years and make sure their optometrist knows that they drive;
  • talk to your pharmacist or doctor about the effects of medication on their driving;
  • avoid complex intersection, tram routes or busy roads during peak hour;
  • choose the safest route, rather than the most direct one; and
  • avoid driving at sunset or sunrise – both are times of high glare and poor visibility