Travel: Safety Tips for the Older Driver

Maintaining a driver’s license is an important issue of independence for older Canadians, especially to those who have driven for most of their lives.

On a per-person basis, mature drivers have less than the average number of collisions. On a per-kilometre basis, the over-70 age group is involved in a disproportionately high number of collisions.

The aging process brings changes that can affect the older driver’s ability to drive safely.

These include:

Reduced vision, particularly at night
A decrease in depth perception
Movement limiting disabilities such arthritis which slow down response time
The rate of aging varies for each person, but it’s important to recognize age-related changes and learn how to compensate for them

Vision, Hearing and Medication

Have regular vision and hearing examinations
When traveling, always wear your eyeglasses or hearing aid
Give yourself time to adjust to new eyeglasses and have your glasses checked periodically
Use medication correctly, know how it could affect your driving and ensure you are free from harmful effects before driving
With some medicines, you may not be able to drive at all.

Driving Tips

Always wear your seat belt
Keep your eyes moving and watch the entire traffic environment
Look for vehicles entering the road from curbs, driveways and businesses
Be alert for parked cars, pedestrians and cyclists
Use rearview and outside mirrors often
Plan all your trips, choosing familiar routes and avoiding dense and/or high speed traffic
Avoid driving at dusk or dawn, when visibility is difficult
Avoid prolonged hours of driving
Do not drive if you are emotionally upset
Concentrate on your driving and prepare for the unexpected
Take a driver improvement course, such as the Canada Safety Council’s 55 Alive

(Information from Canada Safety Council. For more information visit the Canada Safety Council site).

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