Self Help for Senior Drivers

“Motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among 65 – 74 year olds and the second leading cause (after falls) among 75 – 84 year olds.” (American Medical Assoc., National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) There is concern in the general public’s eyes about the increasing number of senior drivers who will be on the road with the ‘baby boomers’ quickly approaching maturity! So how do we make sure that our driving skills are still sharp?

The first place to begin is with your doctor. Are you in good health? Have you had a discussion with your medical doctor about any concerns that you might have which could affect your driving skills? Some things to discuss might be the side effects of medication. Only your doctor can help you with those concerns. Have you had a recent eye exam? How current is your eye glass prescription? These are just a few suggestions to start you off in self evaluating your own driving skills.

If you are still concerned or if family members are questioning your ability to drive then there are some outside resources that might be of assistance to you. The AAA foundation has a quiz on line that can be accessed on www.AAAfoundation.org and click on quizzes. This is a self evaluation that might be of assistance. There are also Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialists available for an evaluation. The CDRS can give you a professional perspective on your driving abilities. You can locate one near you at the Association for Driving Rehabilitation Specialists at www.driver-ed.org/custom/directory-cdrs . The AARP also has some local driving skill classes. They can be located through their website, www.aarp.org/families/driver or by calling 1-888-AARP-now. Let’s all do our part by keeping the roads safe for all!