AgePage

National Institute on Aging

Older Drivers 

At age 78, Sheila thinks she’s a good driver, 

and she would like to stay that way. But lately, 

she has been in minor accidents. Sheila wonders 

how she can stay safe behind the wheel. Will 

taking a class for older drivers help?

You may have asked yourself this 

question, or maybe a family member 

or friend has asked about your driving. 

Getting older doesn’t make you 

a bad driver. But you should 

know there are changes that 

may affect driving skills 

over time.

Your Body

As you age, your joints

may get stiff, and your muscles

may weaken. This can make it 

harder to turn your head to look 

back, turn the steering wheel quickly, 

or brake safely. 
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What you can do:

F See your doctor if you think that pain

or stiffness gets in the way of your 

driving.

F If possible, drive a car with automatic 

transmission, power steering, power 

brakes, and large mirrors.

F Be physically active or exercise to 

keep and even improve your strength 

and flexibility. 

Your Vision

Your eyesight may change as you get

older. At night, you may have trouble 

seeing things clearly. Glare can also be a

problem—from oncoming headlights, 

street lights, or the sun. It might be harder 

to see people, things, and movements 

outside your direct line of sight. It may 

take you longer to read street or traffic 

signs or even recognize familiar places. 

Eye diseases, such as glaucoma, cataracts, 

and macular degeneration, as well as some 

medicines may also change your vision. 

What you can do: 

F The American Academy of 

Ophthalmology recommends you have 

your vision checked at age 40. Your eye 

doctor will then tell you how often you 

should come back. Then, if you are 
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65 or older, see your eye doctor every 

1 to 2 years. There are many vision 

problems your doctor can treat.

F Talk to your eye doctor if you can’t 

see well enough to drive because you 

have a cataract. You might need surgery 

to remove the cataract.

F If you need glasses or contact lenses 

to see far away while driving, make sure 

your prescription is correct. And always 

wear them when you are driving.

F Cut back on night driving if you are 

having trouble seeing in the dark.

Your Hearing

Your hearing may change, making 

it harder to notice horns, sirens, or 

noises from your own car. That can be a 

problem because these sounds warn you 

when you may need to pull over or get 

out of the way. It is important that you 

hear them. 

What you can do: 

F Have your hearing checked. The 

American Speech-Language-Hearing 

Association recommends doing this 

every 3 years after age 50. Your doctor 

can treat some hearing problems.

F Get a hearing aid to help—don’t 

forget to use it when you drive.
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F Try to keep the inside of the car as 

quiet as possible while driving.

F Pay attention to the warning lights 

on the dashboard. They may let you 

know when something is wrong with 

your car.

Your Reactions

In order to drive safely, you should 

be able to react quickly to other cars and 

people on the road. You need to be able 

to make decisions and to remember 

what to do. Being able to make quick 

decisions while driving 

is important so you can 

avoid accidents and stay 

safe. Changes over time 

might slow how fast 

you react. You may 

find that your reflexes are 

getting slower. Stiff joints or 

weak muscles can make it harder 

to move quickly. Your attention span 

may be shorter. Or, it might be harder 

for you to do two things at the same time.

What you can do:

F Leave more space between you and 

the car in front of you.

F Start braking early when you need 

to stop.
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F Avoid high-traffic areas when you can.

F If you must drive on a fast-moving 

highway, drive in the right-hand lane. 

Traffic moves more slowly there. This 

might give you more time to make safe 

driving decisions.

F Take a defensive driving course. AARP, 

American Automobile Association (AAA), 

or your car insurance company can help 

you find a class near you.

F Be aware of how your body and mind 

might be changing, and talk to your 

doctor about any concerns.

Your Health

Some health problems can make it 

harder for people of any age to drive 

safely. But other conditions that are 

more common as you get older can also 

make driving difficult. For example, 

Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and arthritis 

can interfere with your driving abilities. 

At some point, someone with health 

problems may feel that he or she is no 

longer a good driver and may decide to 

stop driving. 

People with illnesses like Alzheimer’s 

disease or other types of dementia may 

forget how to drive safely. They also may 

forget how to find a familiar place like the 

grocery store or even home. In the early 
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stages of Alzheimer’s, some people are 

able to keep driving safely for a while. 

But, as memory and decision-making 

skills worsen, driving will be affected. If 

you have dementia, you might not be 

able to tell that you are having driving 

problems. Family and friends may give

you feedback about your driving. Doctors 

can help you decide whether it’s safe to 

keep driving.

What you can do:

F Tell a family member or your doctor 

if you become confused while driving.

Your Medications

Do you take any medicines that make

you feel drowsy, light-headed, or less alert

than usual? Medications can have side

effects. People tend to take more medicines

as they age, so pay attention to how these 

drugs may affect your driving. 

What you can do:

F Read the medicine labels carefully, 

and pay attention to any warnings.

F Make a list of all your medicines, and 

talk to a doctor or pharmacist about 

how they may affect your driving. 

F Don’t drive if you feel light-headed 

or drowsy.
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Are You A Safe Driver?

Maybe you already know that 

driving at night, on the highway, or 

in bad weather is a problem for you. 

Older drivers can also have problems 

when yielding the right of way, 

turning (especially making left turns), 

changing lanes, passing, and using 

expressway ramps. 

What you can do:

F When in doubt, don’t go out. Bad 

weather like rain or snow can make it 

hard for anyone to drive. Try to wait 

until the weather is better, or use buses, 

taxis, or other transportation services 

available in your community.

F Look for different 

routes that can help 

you avoid places 

where driving can 

be a problem. Left 

turns can be quite 

dangerous because 

you have to check so many 

things at the same time. You could plan 

routes to where you want to go so that 

you only need to make right turns.

F Have your driving skills checked. 

There are driving programs and clinics 

that can test your driving and also 
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make suggestions about improving 

your driving skills.

F Update your driving skills by taking 

a driving refresher course. (Hint: Some 

car insurance companies may lower your bill 

when you pass this type of class.)

Is It Time To Give Up Driving?

We all age differently. For this reason, 

there is no way to set one age when everyone should stop driving. So, how do you 

know if you should stop? To help you 

decide, ask yourself:

F Do other drivers often honk at me?

Have I had some accidents, even if 

they are only “fender benders”?

F Do I get lost, even on roads I know?

F Do cars or people walking seem to 

appear out of nowhere?

F Have family, friends, or my doctor said 

they are worried about my driving?

F Am I driving less these days because 

I am not as sure about my driving as 

I used to be? 

F Do I have trouble staying in my lane?

F Do I have trouble moving my foot 

between the gas and the brake pedals, 

or do I confuse the two?
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If you answered yes to any of these 

questions, it may be time to think about 

whether or not you are still a safe driver. 

How Will You Get Around?

Are you worried that, if you stop 

driving, you won’t be able to do the 

things you want and need to do? 

You’re not alone. Many people have 

this concern, but there may be more 

ways to get around than you think. 

For example, some areas offer free or 

low-cost bus or taxi service for older 

people. Some communities also have 

carpools that you can join without a car. 

Religious and civic groups sometimes 

have volunteers who will drive you where 

you want to go. Your local Area Agency 

on Aging can help you find services in 

your area. Call 1-800-677-1116, or go 

to www.eldercare.gov to find the nearest 

Area Agency on Aging.

You can also think about taking taxis.

Sound pricey? Don’t forget—it costs a lot

to own a car. If you don’t have to buy

a car or pay for insurance, maintenance, 

gas, oil, or other car expenses, then you 

may be able to afford to take taxis or 

other public transportation. You can 

also help buy gas for friends or family 

who give you rides. 
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More Tips For Safe Driving

Planning before you leave:

) Plan to drive on streets you know.

) Limit your trips to places that are easy t

) Take roads that will avoid risky spots lik

) Add extra time for travel if driving cond

) Don’t drive when you are stressed or tire

While you are driving:

) Always wear your seat belt.

) Stay off the cell phone.

) Avoid distractions such as eating, listeni

) Make sure there is enough space behind 

too closely, slow down and pull over if n

) Use your window defrosters to keep bo

) Keep your headlights on at all times.

Car safety:

) Drive a car with air bags.

) Check your windshield wiper blades oft

) Keep your headlights clean and aimed i

) Think about getting hand controls for b

have leg problems.
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o get to and close to home.

ke ramps and left turns.

ditions are bad.

ed.

ing to the radio, or having conversations.

d your car. (Hint: If someone follows you 

needed to let that person pass you.)

oth the front and back windows clear.

ten and replace them when needed.

in the right direction.

both the gas and brake pedals if you 
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For More Information

Making decisions about your driving 

skills is hard, but it is important to 

find the safest option for you and the 

others who share the road with you. 

Here are some helpful resources.

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

607 14th Street, NW, Suite 201

Washington, DC 20005

1-202-638-5944

www.seniordrivers.org

AARP

601 E Street, NW

Washington, DC 20049

1-888-227-7669 (toll-free)

www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety

Administration on Aging 

Washington, DC 20201

1-202-619-0724

www.aoa.gov

American Association of Motor 

Vehicle Administrators

4301 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 400

Arlington, VA 22203

1-703-522-4200

www.granddriver.info
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Federal Highway Administration

Office of Safety - HSSI, E71-318 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

1-202-366-6836

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov

The Hartford

One Hartford Plaza

690 Asylum Avenue 

Hartford, CT 06115

1-860-547-5000

www.thehartford.com/alzheimers

For more information on health

and aging, contact:

National Institute on Aging 

Information Center

P.O. Box 8057

Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057

1-800-222-2225 (toll-free)

1-800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)

www.nia.nih.gov

www.nia.nih.gov/espanol
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National Institute on Aging

National Institutes of Health 

U.S. Department of Health & 

Human Services

August 2008

Updated June 2011

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