by Frances Meupe

Created on: September 17, 2009   Last Updated: September 18, 2009

Many people believe there should be a cut-off age for elderly drivers. However, driving skills differ from person to person. We are usually cautious of teens learning to drive and the elderly who have been driving for years. While there are some senior citizens who are safe drivers, there are others who are not so safe. Some seniors are at risk for causing accidents. A portion of elderly drivers realize they have driving impairments. They usually modify their driving habits or give up driving completely. Others recognize there is a problem but they continue to drive. These drivers believe that to hang up the keys for good, means to give up part of their independence.

Many elderly with cars have decreased driving ability. Reflexes are not as quick. Response and reaction time is slower than with younger drivers. There are also certain health conditions that should limit or restrict the elderly from driving. There are elderly drivers who suffer from arthritis, which decreases mobility and the ability to grasp. Some drivers are hard of hearing. They may not hear signals that warn of impending danger. Vision problems also affect elderly drivers. They often suffer from glaucoma, cataracts or macular degeneration which makes perception poor. There are drivers with dementia or Alzheimer's who should never be allowed to drive. They are often confused and get lost easily. Families should prohibit their driving at the onset of symptoms.

Your elderly loved one no doubt is on a medication regimen to manage and control their health problems. Whether prescribed or over-the-counter, most medicine is good for what ails us. But medication is not without side effects and adverse reactions. One common side effect is drowsiness. You and your loved one should stay informed as to the side effects of each medication that your loved one takes. If your loved one is on medicine that causes drowsiness or dizziness, maybe that person should not continue to drive. Senior citizens and others who drive under the influence of legal or illegal drugs are at risk for causing accidents.

Although not commonly associated with the elderly, alcohol abuse is a major cause of automobile accidents. Alcohol does not discriminate. Anyone's driving skills can be impaired by alcohol. The skills involved in driving a motor vehicle include psychomotor skills, vision, perception, tracking (steering), information processing, and attention. Data from laboratory experiments indicate that all of these functions are impaired by alcohol, although they differ in the extent of their impairment at any given BAC (blood alcohol concentration) http://findarticles.com./p/articles/mi_m0847/is_n1_v 14/ai9353143/. The elderly and others who drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol undermine the safety of others.

Family, friends, other drivers, and pedestrians know when an elderly person should not drive. You realize it too. If they refuse to relinquish the keys willingly, you will have to come up with a creative way to confiscate the keys. Think of the injuries that can be prevented and possibly lives that could be saved. Get the keys, disable the car, and notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of the situation.

The elderly are fearful of losing their independence. Discuss safety issues with them and the repercussions of having an accident and people being injured or killed. Discuss alternative methods of mobility. Assure them that they can depend on family and friends to provide transportation. And public transportation is available too. Many cities also offer special transit for the elderly, with special consideration for wheelchairs.

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