The effects of ageing on
your safety when driving

Ageing can affect your eyesight, hearing, decision making, and movement. And if you have medication for health problems, that can interfere with your driving too. But you can take action to manage the effects of ageing.

This worksheet describes some of the effects of ageing. It explains what you can do to help, and helps you draw up an action plan.

Eyesight can get worse

Good eyesight is crucial to safe driving. Ninety percent of driving decisions are based on what your eyes see.

Eyesight can change with age:

·  your eye’s lens loses the ability to change focus quickly

·  your peripheral (side) vision narrows

·  your retina becomes less sensitive to light.

A driver aged 60 needs three times as much light as a teenager to see, and takes twice as long to adjust to a change from light to darkness.

What you can do: be ready to drive

Get regular eye tests – at least every two years. Cataracts are common and can be corrected with surgery. Many other eye problems can be slowed if they are detected in time.

Limit your driving to daylight hours if you have trouble with night vision or glare. Install a larger rear-view mirror to help you see behind you.

What you can do: when driving

Turn your head frequently to compensate for poor peripheral vision. Keep your headlights, mirrors and windscreen clean.

Eyesight notes

  1. What do you already do?
  2. What else do you think you should try?

Hearing can get worse

Poor hearing can make you miss important sounds, such as:

·  emergency vehicles

·  rail crossing warning bells

·  the sound of your indicators

·  the sound of your engine.

What you can do: be ready to drive

Get regular hearing tests. Talk to your GP about how often is appropriate for you.

What you can do: when driving

If you have hearing aids, wear them when driving. Manage distracting noise, such as the radio, and ask passengers to be quiet.

Pay extra attention to visual checks.

Hearing notes

1.  What do you already do?

2.  What else do you think you should try?

Decision-making can get worse

Older minds can be just as sharp as younger ones. But they react more slowly. Age makes the brain process information more slowly, and also makes it harder to ignore distractions.

Reacting to a situation while driving involves three steps: recognising, deciding and acting. For an older driver, each step takes longer – and in some cases so long that it becomes dangerous.

Young drivers might have quicker reactions, but many older drivers have a much larger bank of experience to draw on. The trick is to react both quickly and correctly.

What you can do: be ready to drive

Plan your route ahead of time so you won’t have to make a last-minute decision about which way to turn. Use side roads rather than main roads if you prefer less traffic, or avoid driving at busy times of the day.

Turn your mobile phone off.

What you can do: when driving

Allow a greater distance between you and the vehicle ahead, so you’ll have more time to stop.

Look at the road well ahead to spot any trouble before you reach it. In the city, look at least to the next intersection. On the open road, look ahead as far as you can see.

Some people find right turns across traffic difficult. If you do, you can often avoid them. You may be able to make three left turns around the block, to avoid having to make a right turn.

If you must turn right, pay extra attention to the speed of the cars coming toward you. Make sure you have enough time and space to cross oncoming traffic safely before turning. Watch for pedestrians and cyclists who might force you to stop before you can complete your turn.

Eliminate distractions, such as the radio. If your passengers are distracting you, ask them to stop.

Decision-making notes

1.  What do you already do?

2.  What else do you think you should try?

Ageing can affect your movement

As you age, your physical movement and activity can become more limited. Muscles tend to weaken, you become tired more quickly and your joints may get stiff.

Driving is a physical activity. A driver who gets little or no physical exercise may not have the strength, flexibility and coordination to operate a vehicle safely.

What you can do: be ready to drive

Stay physically active – walk for at least 30 minutes, five times a week, or the equivalent. Gardening, golf, tennis and other sports can also help keep you in good physical shape.

Stay mentally active. Using your problem-solving skills when not driving can help mental flexibility. Try activities such as jigsaw puzzles or crosswords.

Learn a new skill or hobby. This is fun at any age and helps keep your mind flexible.

Movement notes

1.  What do you already do?

2.  What else do you think you should try?

Medication can affect your driving

Medication can interfere with safe driving by making you drowsy or affecting your concentration. This includes many over the counter medicines, such as decongestants or cold remedies. Some of the worst offenders are tranquillisers, pain relievers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, cough medicines, antihistamines and decongestants.

Alcohol can also interact with some drugs and cause serious side effects.

What you can do: be ready to drive

Read the fine print on your medication. If a medication you’re taking is labelled ‘Do not use while driving’, let someone else drive.

Discuss any side effects of your medication with your doctor or pharmacist. Tell your doctor about what non-prescription medication you are taking. These can interact with some drugs and cause serious side effects.

Don’t drive if your medication makes you sleepy or disoriented. Avoid alcohol altogether if your medication could interact with it. Avoid driving when first taking a new medication. Side effects such as drowsiness are often worse for the first few days.

Check with your doctor before stopping any medication.

Medication notes

1.  What do you already do?

2.  What else do you think you should try?

Other information

Go to the Transport Agency website for information and activities to improve your safety on and around roads, including:

·  The road ahead: transport options for seniors (the ‘Gettingaround by car’ section relates to this module)

·  Supporting senior drivers for your family or support people.

www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/driving-safely/senior-drivers

Contact a local driving instructor for an assessment of your driving, or to refresh your driving skills. They can provide a practical coaching session suitable for senior drivers.

My personal action plan

Make your own notes here about the things you have decided to try. Ask for help on the best way to get started if you’re not sure.

We’ve filled in one example to help.

What I’m going to try / How to get started
Telling passengers to keep quiet so they don’t distract me. / At the start of every journey I’ll tell my passengers to let me concentrate and not to be offended if I ask them to be quiet.
2. 
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KS 3 Worksheet Page 7 of 7