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Aging Drivers
AGING DRIVERS & The Elephant In The Room AGING DRIVERS & The Elephant In The Room Written by Linda Fech, Michigan Office of Highway Safety Written by Linda Fech, Michigan Office of Highway Safety
Starting around age 55 there is a decrease in how well adult drivers process, remember and judge driving events, such as the distance of oncoming traffic. We may notice losses in our vision, memory, strength, flexibility, and reaction time. Aging doesn’t affect all drivers in the same way. Your health is closely connected to your ability to drive safely. Older drivers and their families should discuss the matter with their healthcare provider. The importance of keeping an aging family member safe without compromising their independence and mobility is essential to maintaining a thriving, engaged life. The topic of driving and seniors generates many concerns and is an uncomfortable topic that becomes the elephant in the room when families do engage parents in aging-related conversations. As a result, the subject is often delayed until evidence of poor driving behaviors or signs of serious cognitive or physical decline begin to appear. The good news is that there are many resources aging drivers and their families can explore to help make the aging driver’s transition from driving to non-driving safe and affirming.
One of the first steps is to visit the “Safe Drivers, Smart Options” (SDSO) website at www.Michigan.gov/agingdriver
The website provides information and resources for older drivers and their families, including: • How and when to start conversations with older drivers; • How medications and health problems impact driving as we age; • Driving self-assessment tools, videos, and links to driver-refresher courses; • Contacts for local organizations that work with older drivers and their families; and • Resources for transportation options for those who no longer drive.
Starting around age 55 there is a decrease in how well adult drivers Michigan.gov/AgingDriver process, remember and judge driving events, such as the distance of oncoming traffic. We may notice losses in our vision, memory, Written by Linda Fech, strength, flexibility, and reaction time. Aging doesn’t affect all drivers Michigan Office of Highway Safety in the same way. Your health is closely connected to your ability to drive safely. Older drivers and their families should discuss the matter with their healthcare provider. The importance of keeping an aging family member safe without compromising their independence and mobility is essential to maintaining a thriving, engaged life. The topic of driving and seniors generates many concerns and is an uncomfortable topic that becomes the elephant in the room when families do engage parents in aging-related conversations. As a result, the subject is often delayed until evidence of poor driving behaviors or signs of serious cognitive or physical decline begin to appear. Michigan.gov/AgingDriver The good news is that there are many resources aging drivers and their families can explore to help make the aging driver’s transition from driving to non-driving safe and affirming. Starting around age 55 there is a decrease in how well adult drivers process, remember and judge driving events, such as the distance
One of the first steps is to visit the “Safe Drivers, Smart Mobility is essential to keeping seniors active and engaged inof oncoming traffic. We may notice losses in our vision, memory,
Options” (SDSO) website at www.Michigan.gov/agingdriver their communities. The SDSO website was developed aroundstrength, flexibility, and reaction time. Aging doesn’t affect all drivers The website provides information and resources for older drivers and their families, including: three principles:in the same way. Your health is closely connected to your ability to drive safely. Older drivers and their families should discuss the • How and when to start conversations with older drivers; 1. To help aging drivers continue to drive as long as safely possible;matter with their healthcare provider. • How medications and health problems impact driving as we age; • Driving self-assessment tools, videos, and links to driver-refresher courses; • Contacts for local organizations that work with older drivers and 2. To help aging drivers transition into a smooth driving retirement; 3. To educate the community about the support and resources seniors need to maintain their independence and mobility. The importance of keeping an aging family member safe without compromising their independence and mobility is essential to maintaining a thriving, engaged life. The topic of driving and their families; and The SDSO website encourages everyone to be proactive and planseniors generates many concerns and is an uncomfortable topic • Resources for transportation options for those who no longer drive. for a future that includes “driving retirement.” With that perspective,that becomes the elephant in the room when families do engage the elephant in the room will not seem as threatening.parents in aging-related conversations. As a result, the subject is often delayed until evidence of poor driving behaviors or signs of • Washtenaw County ranks among the top ten Michigan countiesserious cognitive or physical decline begin to appear. for the most senior driver fatalities and serious injuries from 2016 to 2020, coming in at Number 8.The good news is that there are many resources aging drivers and their families can explore to help make the aging driver’s transition • Ingham County ranks 10th and Jackson County 13th.from driving to non-driving safe and affirming. *A senior driver crash is a crash involving at least one driver age 65 or older.One of the first steps is to visit the “Safe Drivers, Smart Options” (SDSO) website at www.Michigan.gov/agingdriver
Mobility is essential to keeping seniors active and engaged in their communities. The SDSO website was developed around three principles:
1. To help aging drivers continue to drive as long as safely possible; 2. To help aging drivers transition into a smooth driving retirement; 3. To educate the community about the support and resources seniors need to maintain their independence and mobility. The SDSO website encourages everyone to be proactive and plan for a future that includes “driving retirement.” With that perspective, the elephant in the room will not seem as threatening. • Washtenaw County ranks among the top ten Michigan counties for the most senior driver fatalities and serious injuries from 2016 to 2020, coming in at Number 8. • Ingham County ranks 10th and Jackson County 13th. *A senior driver crash is a crash involving at least one driver age 65 or older.
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Mobility is essential to keeping seniors active and engaged in their communities. The SDSO website was developed around three principles:
1. To help aging drivers continue to drive as long as safely possible; ASSISTED LIVING FOR SENIORS 2. To help aging drivers transition into a smooth driving retirement; 3. To educate the community about the support and resources seniors need to maintain their independence and mobility. The SDSO website encourages everyone to be proactive and plan for a future that includes “driving retirement.” With that perspective, the elephant in the room will not seem as threatening.
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