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When to Turn in the Car Keys: Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Helps Elders and Children Determine Ability to Drive
By Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
March 1, 2010
Older drivers have a lifetime of valuable driving experience and most hope to continue to drive independently as long as possible. However, changes in vision, physical fitness, and reflexes may cause safety concerns for their families.
By accurately assessing these changes, children of elderly parents can ensure their safety on the road or help them to choose other kinds of transportation.
"While most older adults take appropriate steps when they detect a problem with their driving, they may not immediately recognize general health problems that lead to a driving impairment," reports Howard Kuo, M.D., Section Chief of Neurology at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. "Sometimes the observations of loved ones are needed, along with the guidance of health professionals." If a health condition is a concern, then a screening for ability to drive should take place.
Situations that necessitate a screening include:
• A medical condition such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, head injury, multiple sclerosis, head trauma, Lou Gerhig’s disease, mental health conditions.
• When the use of medications may interfere with driving.
• When drivers whose reaction time, vision or hearing, strength, motor reflexes, or perception skills have decreased due to disease or aging.
"To be a safe driver, you must have the ability to scan the environment quickly and effectively," says Michael Giuffrida, MS, OTR CHT, Occupational and Hand Therapist at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. "Drivers have to respond to many unforeseen events that can happen, such a child running into the street or a car stopping suddenly."
Determining a Safe Elderly Driver
Safe elderly drivers require the coordination of many different skills. The physical and mental changes that accompany aging can diminish the abilities of elderly drivers. Watch for telltale signs of decline in the elderly person’s driving abilities.
Do they:
• Drive at inappropriate speeds, either too fast or too slow?
• Respond slowly to or not notice pedestrians, bicyclists and other drivers?
• Ignore, disobey or misinterpret street signs and traffic lights?
• Fail to yield to other cars or pedestrians who have the right-of-way?
• Fail to judge distances between cars correctly?
• Become easily frustrated and angry?
• Appear drowsy, confused or frightened?
• Have one or more near accidents or near misses?
• Drift across lane markings or bump into curbs?
• Forget to turn on headlights after dusk?
• Have difficulty with glare from oncoming headlights, streetlights, etc.
• Get lost repeatedly, even in familiar areas?
If the answer to one or more of these questions is "yes," families should explore whether medical issues are affecting the driver and seek medical advice.
Adapting to Changes
The American Association of Retired Persons sponsors the 55-Alive Mature Driver Program, which helps older people deal with issues associated with aging. There are many ways for elderly drivers to adjust so they are not a danger to themselves or others.
Among them are:
• Avoid driving at night and, if possible, at dawn or dusk
• Drive only to familiar locations
• Avoid driving to places far away from home
• Avoid expressways (freeways) and rush hour traffic
• Leave plenty of time to get where they are going
• Don’t drive alone
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