Mature Drivers

Of the 200 million registered drivers in the United States, approximately 10 million are over age 75. This age group has more accidents per mile than any other group except teenagers. Often, the impaired driving ability of seniors can be attributed to health problems, according to Marvin Lipman, M.D., Consumer's Union's chief medical advisor.

Some impairments that commonly interfere with safe driving are vision and hearing problems, physical disabilities, and medication-induced dizziness or confusion. Individuals with glaucoma or cataracts often have poor night vision. Also, eye drops can interfere with the ability to adjust to low light or sudden brightness, such as the glare of oncoming headlights. To lessen these problems, cataract surgery or changing to a different eye drop may help.

As for hearing problems, seniors should have their hearing checked annually and wear a hearing aid if necessary. The inability to hear other drivers' car horns can be very dangerous.

Arthritis or Parkinson's disease can decrease reaction time to traffic dangers. Diabetes can cause a loss of sensation in the feet, which prevents drivers from gauging the amount of pressure they're applying to the brake and gas pedals. Occupational and physical therapy can improve strength and coordination and may help individuals drive more safely while keeping their independence.

Driving ability can also be affected by drugs such as sleeping medications and tranquilizers; pain- killers; antidepressants; heart, blood pressure, and diabetic medications; and over-the-counter antihistamines. People who believe a medication is making them drowsy or confused should consult a physician. Adjusting the dosage or switching medications may solve the problem.

Drivers with cognitive problems that are caused by Alzheimer's disease or multiple silent strokes can be particularly dangerous drivers "because they tend to deny or hide their disability, leaving it to distraught family members to alert the physician," Lipman said. By the time the doctor is alerted, the patient has usually been involved in at least one minor accident, gotten lost while driving, or driven the wrong way down a one-way street.

Drivers with cognitive impairment may still be competent enough to drive, but their accident rate is comparable to drivers who have been drinking but whose blood alcohol concentrations (BACS) are under the legal limit.

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