Older Drivers
Age alone doesn’t make someone an unsafe driver. Many older adults drive safely for decades. But changes in vision, hearing, flexibility, reaction time and health, and the medicines that treat them, can affect driving. Planning ahead helps people keep their independence safely.
- Older adults
- Families
Changes that affect driving
- Vision: needing more light, more glare at night, cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.
- Hearing: missing horns and sirens.
- Movement: stiff necks make it harder to check blind spots; weaker legs and arthritis affect pedals.
- Reaction time and attention: slower processing in complex traffic.
- Medications: many cause drowsiness or dizziness, especially in combination. See Impaired Driving.
- Health conditions: dementia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, diabetes and sleep apnea can all affect driving.
Staying a safe driver
- Get eye exams every year or two, and keep glasses up to date.
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review all your medicines for driving effects.
- Stay physically active to keep strength and flexibility.
- Adjust seat, mirrors and steering wheel; consider a car with blind-spot monitoring and a backup camera.
- Take a refresher course; some insurers give discounts for it.
- Plan routes to avoid hard left turns, heavy traffic and night driving if they’re difficult.
Warning signs
- Getting lost on familiar routes
- Near misses, new dents or scrapes on the car
- Trouble staying in the lane or judging gaps
- Confusing the gas and brake pedals
- Missing stop signs or traffic signals
- Friends or family worried about riding along
- Tickets or warnings from police
Talking about driving
If you’re worried about a loved one, start early and focus on safety, not age. Ride along to see for yourself, suggest a professional driving evaluation (occupational therapists offer them), and help plan other ways to get around: rides from family, transit, senior shuttles and rideshares. Giving up driving is a big loss, so involve them in the decision.
State rules
Some states require more frequent license renewals, vision tests or in-person renewals for older drivers. Doctors and family members can often ask the licensing agency to review a driver’s ability.
Standards & references
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