Copperas Cove, TX 76522, US
Effects of aging on senior driving
Why is it important?
- Drivers over 70 have a higher risk of being involved in an accident
- Medication and reduced physical function increase risk of accidents and injury
- Fatality rate increase because of fragility increases around ages 60-65
- Drivers 85+ have the highest fatality rates per mile
- More than 90% of crashes are preventable
Senior driving: Warning Areas & What you should know.
Cognition
- Attention and alertness
- Problem Solving
- Memory
- Way Finding Skills
- Reactivity and Anticipation
Vision
- Depth perception
- Peripheral vision
- Visual spatial skills
- Contrast sensitivity
Affects Motor Function
- Strength
- Flexibility
- Endurance
- Reaction Time
- Range of motion
Client and family Education
Warning Signs
- Slow or poor decisions
- Easily frustrated or confused
- Frequently gets lost, even in familiar areas
- Needs help or instructions from passengers, “copilot”
- Easily distracted
- Not anticipating potential dangerous situations
- Confusion at Exits
- Doesn’t observe signs, signals, or other traffic
- Inappropriate driving speeds (too fast or too slow)
- Poor road position, or wide turns
- Accidents or near misses
- Difficulty with parking (parking outside the lines, taking up multiple spaces)
- Other drivers often honk horns
- Ticketed moving violations or warnings
Family Education
- Look at frequency and severity of signs
- Look for changes in driving skills
- Look for patterns
- Avoid an alarming reaction
- Track observations over time
- Ask partner, family and friends
Establishing a Driving Retirement Plan
If you are concerned what should you do first?
- Make an appointment with your primary care physician
- Make an appointment with a Occupational Therapist Driver Rehab Specialist for a Senior Driving Evaluation including an On-Road Driving Test
- Limit driving to accommodate for skill
- Start making an alternate driving plan
- Use Alternative Transportation (The Hartford Guide: Family Conversations About Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia & Driving)
How we can help
- Occupational Therapy Clinical Assessment & On-Road Driving Test for Senior Driving & Driving Retirement
- Assistance with developing a plan for community mobility
- Serving seniors in Austin, Waco, San Antonio and Surrounding Communities