Driving
September 21st, 2006 by RespiteMatch.com
Key Word
driving
——————————————————————————–
In 1996, about one-half of seniors living in private households (1.7 million) were driving a car, mini-van or light truck. Driving is not just a matter of getting from point A to point B; it is a matter of freedom, independence and mobility. However, if an individual’s driving skills have decined due to age or illness, the driver’s right to independence can’t outweigh the risk to individual and public safety. Getting someone to agree to stop driving can be a stressful and emotional undertaking for the driver and the caregiver.
Many older drivers voluntarily change their driving habits — avoiding rush hours, night-time driving and highways — to compensate for disabilities related to aging. However people in the moderate and later stages of dementia lack insight into their actions because of their illness and may continue driving long past the time they should stop. In some circumstances, taking away the keys may be the only option, if lives and property are at risk.
As of March 1999, Ontario was the only province that mandated a driver’s test (at age 80 and every two years thereafter) for seniors.
Source: Provincial licensing agencies, March 1999.)
Things You Should Know
old age per se does not reduce driving skills. Older people, however, tend to have more of the health conditions that affect driving ability.
car crashes are the second-leading cause of injury among seniors and the leading cause of injury-related deaths
Driving and people with dementia:
30-40% of people with dementia drive
30-50% have an accident within a few years of diagnosis
80% of those who have an accident continue to drive
40% of these have at least one more accident
as many as 27% of those asked to stop driving are still on the road
Source: Dr. Allen Dobbs University of Alberta
Things to Look For
Risk factors for impaired driving ability
illness and medications that cause a decline in perception, mobility and understanding
poor vision — especially night vision, failing eyesight
problems with depth perception
hearing problems
slow reflexes
memory problems
disorientation
reduced mobility, such as difficulty turning head
physical weakness and impairments
drowsiness
fatigue
poor concentration
lack of judgment
lack of awareness
Signs of impaired driving ability that may be related to ageing and illnesses
weaving, lane shifting
unsafe left turns
ignored signs and signals
stopping at green lights
inappropriate turns, including turns that are too wide and too sharp
unsafe passing
lane changing without checking
failure to yield right of way
difficulty backing up
improper entrance onto and exit from highways
confusion at highway entrances and merges
driving wrong way on highways
slow driving
slow response to changes in driving and traffic conditions
taking too long to reach the destination
not reaching destination
getting lost
unexplained dents in the car
fender benders/accidents
traffic tickets
