Driving Safely Longer: Roadmap to driving after age 60

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Steering Clear at 60 Tips for safe driving as
we age
Debra A. Kerrigan, MS, OTR/L Newton-Wellesley
Hospital Department of Rehabilitation
Services Drive Safe Program
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Occupational Therapy

• Skills for the Job of Living

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Why Do We Drive?

• Independence
• Freedom
• Convenience
• Connection and
• contribution to the
• community, friends, family
• Respect
• Pride of owning a vehicle

(DriveWell1)
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Changes in Cars

• How are todays cars different ?

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Changes in Roads

• What about the roads and driving today?
• How has driving changed?

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Changes That Can Affect Safe Driving for Older
Adults

• Vision
• Strength, flexibility
• and reflexes
• Health conditions like arthritis
• Memory

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Vision
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Adapting to Vision Changes

• Adjust mirrors properly before driving
• Check rearview mirror every 10 to 20 seconds
• Turn your head and look before changing lanes or
  merging with traffic
• Other tips.

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Strength, Flexibility Reflexes

• Aging may bring diminished
• muscle strength to legs, arms, and handgripall
  important for vehicle control
• flexibility to look over the shoulder for
  checking traffic
• reaction time to respond to traffic or road
  hazards

(DriveWell1)
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Adapting to Physical Changes

• Physical Activity
• Strengthening
• Stretching
• Endurance
• Balance development
• Adaptive Equipment

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Medications

• Older adults may
• be more susceptible to adverse
• or strong reactions
• May take more medications, which increases the
  likelihood for interaction
• The body may not use medications as effectively
  and reacts more strongly to even lower doses

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Medication Tips

• Be aware of your reaction to medications,
  vitamins, and supplements.
• New medicine Ask doctor or pharmacist about side
  effects.
• Medication makes you dizzy or drowsy Talk to
  doctor.
• Adjust your driving schedule to accommodate the
  reaction.

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Mental Fitness

• Driving a car requires
• Making decisions
• quickly which
• requires mental alertness.
• Switching attention quickly to many situations
  happening on the road.
• Dividing attention to perform many tasks such as
  steering, shifting gears checking mirrors and
  looking ahead.

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Staying Mentally Fit
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Tips for Staying FocusedEliminate distractions

• Organize your trip
• Sunglasses in easy reach
• Money ready for tolls
• Read your map before you start your trip
• Control your environment
• Turn the radio/music down or off
• Ask passengers to keep conversations down
• Watch your temper
• Drive on familiar roads

(DriveWell1)
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Sleep Rest

• Improve concentration on the road by getting
  enough sleep and rest
• Practice habits of sleep health
• Avoid naps
• Develop a regular time to go to bed
• Do some physical activity each day
• Eat a light meal in the evening
• Avoid drinking tea, coffee, or cocoa 6 hours
  before bedtime

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Alcohol Use
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Talking it Over

• When
• Talk about driving
• before a problem develops.
• Why
• The discussion is about your connection to the
  community and your control over your future.
• Driving discussions affect othersfamilies, loved
  ones and friends, and those in the community that
  rely on you.

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Warning Signs Strategies
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To Drive or Not to Drive?

• Most older drivers are safe
• Many older drivers self-restrict
• Majority of older drivers in the United States
  will outlive their ability to drive by about 7 to
  10 years3
• Objective assessments and driver rehabilitation
  can be helpful
• Driving is considered a privilege but mobility
  is a human right 2

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Who Does Driving Evaluations?

• RMV
• Evaluators lack specialized knowledge of health
  conditions and aging
• Driver Rehabilitation Specialists
• Specialized training
• Driving instructors knowledge of driving
• Occupational therapists knowledge of driving
  medical conditions

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Driving Evaluations

• Clinical Assessment of Underlying Skills for
  Driving
• On-Road Assessment of Driving Performance
• ________________________________________________
• Driving Recommendations

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Closing

• Thank you!
• Program Evaluation

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References

• 1American Society on Aging National Highway
  Traffic Safety Administration. (2007). DriveWell
  Promoting older driver safety and mobility in
  your community. U.S. Department of
  Transportation. DOT HS 809 838.
• 2Eby, D. W., Molnar, L. J. (2008). 2008 North
  American License Policies
• Workshop Proceedings. AAA Foundation for
  Traffic Safety. Available http//www.aaafoundati
  on.org/pdf/LPWorkshopProceedings.pdf
• 3Foley, D.J., Heimovitz, H.K., Guralnik, J., and
  Brock, D. (August 2002). Driving life expectancy
  of persons aged 70 years and older in the United
  States. American Journal of Public Health
  92(8)128489.