2

AgePage

National Institute on Aging

Older Drivers

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

likes the independence of getting around town 

on her own. But, in the past year, she was in 

a minor accident and had several near misses. 

She’s noticed a few new dents on her car and 

doesn’t know how they got there. Sheila wonders 

how she can stay safe behind the wheel. 

Have you been worried about your 

driving? Have your family or friends 

expressed concern? Changes in your 

health may affect your driving skills 

over time. Don’t risk hurting yourself 

or others. Talk to your doctor about any 

concerns you have about your health 

and driving.

Stiff Joints and Muscles

As you age, your joints may get stiff, 

and your muscles may weaken. Arthritis, 

which is common among older adults, 

might impact your ability to drive. 

These changes can make it harder to 

turn your head to look back, turn the 

steering wheel quickly, or brake safely.

Safe driving tips:

F See your doctor if pain, stiffness, or 

arthritis seem to get 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.

Trouble Seeing

Your eyesight can change as you 

get older. It might be harder to see 

people, things, and movement outside 

your direct line of sight. It may take you 

longer to read street or traffic signs or 

even recognize familiar places. At night 

you may have trouble seeing things clearly. 

Glare from oncoming headlights or street 

lights can be a problem. Depending on the 

time of the day, the sun might be blinding. 

Eye diseases, such as glaucoma, 

cataracts, and macular degeneration, 

as well as some medicines, can also 

cause vision problems.

Safe driving tips:

F If you are 65 or older, see your eye 

doctor at least every 1 to 2 years. Ask 

if there are any ways to improve your 

eyesight. Many vision problems can 

be treated. For instance, cataracts 

might be removed with surgery.
3 4

F If you need glasses or contact lenses 

to see far away while driving, make 

sure your prescription is up-to-date 

and correct. And always wear them 

when you are driving.

F Cut back on night driving or stop 

driving at night if you have trouble 

seeing in the dark. Try to avoid driving 

during sunrise and sunset when the sun 

can be directly in your line of vision. 

Trouble Hearing

As you get older, your hearing can 

change, making it harder to notice horns, 

sirens, or even noises coming 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.

Safe driving tips:

F Have your hearing checked at least 

every 3 years after age 50.

F Discuss concerns you have about 

hearing with your doctor. There 

may be things that can help. For 

example, a hearing aid might make 

a big difference. Just remember to 

use it when you drive.

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 tell you when 

something is wrong with your car. 

Dementia and Driving

People with Alzheimer’s disease or 

other types of dementia may not be 

able to drive safely. They also may 

forget how to find familiar places like 

the grocery store or even their home. 

In early stages of Alzheimer’s, some 

people are able to keep driving. But, 

as memory and decision-making skills 

get worse, they need to stop. 

People who have dementia often do not 

know they are having driving problems. 

Family and friends need to monitor the 

person’s driving ability and take action 

as soon as they observe a potential 

problem. Work with the doctor to let 

the person know it’s no longer safe to 

keep driving. Be prepared—the person 

may not respond well to the news. 

Safe driving tips:

F Pay extra attention to the older 

person’s driving skills. Do not ignore 

a problem—it’s a danger for the 

driver and others on the road.

F Read Driving Safety: Alzheimer’s 

Caregiving Tips and learn more about 

issues related to Alzheimer’s disease 

and other dementias at 

www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers.
5 6

Slower Reaction Time 

and Reflexes

To drive safely and avoid accidents, 

you should be able to:

F React quickly to other cars and 

people on the road

F Make fast decisions while driving, 

following the proper rules of the road

As you get older, your reflexes might 

get slower, and you might not react as 

quickly as you could in the past. You might 

find that you have a shorter attention span, 

making it harder to do two things at once.

Stiff joints from arthritis or weak 

muscles also can make it harder to move 

quickly. You may lose some feeling or 

have tingling in your fingers and feet, 

which can make it difficult to steer or 

use the foot pedals. Parkinson’s disease 

or limitations following a stroke can 

make it no longer safe to drive. 

Safe driving tips:

F Leave more space between you and 

the car in front of you.

F Start braking early when you need 

to stop.

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. 

Organizations like AARP, American 

Automobile Association (AAA), or 

your car insurance company can help 

you find a class near you. See “For 

More Information About Driving” for 

contact information.

F Be aware of how your body and mind 

might be changing, and talk with your 

doctor about any concerns. 

Medications Can Affect Driving

Do you take any medicines that make 

you feel drowsy, lightheaded, or less 

alert than usual? Do medicines you take 

have a warning about driving? Many 

medications have side effects that can 

make driving unsafe. Pay attention to 

how these drugs may affect your driving.

Safe driving tips:

F Read medicine labels carefully. Look 

for any warnings.

F Make a list of all of your medicines, 

and talk to a doctor or pharmacist 

about how they can affect your driving.

F Don’t drive if you feel lightheaded 

or drowsy.

Be a Safe Driver

Maybe you already know that driving at 

night, on the highway, or in bad weather is 

a problem for you. Some older drivers also 
7 8

have problems when yielding the right 

of way, turning (especially making left 

turns), changing lanes, passing, and using 

expressway ramps.

Safe driving tips:

F Have your driving skills checked by 

a driving rehabilitation specialist, 

occupational therapist, or other 

trained professional. Driving programs

and clinics can test your driving and 

suggest ways to improve your skills.

F Update your driving skills by taking 

a driving refresher course. Some car 

insurance companies may lower your 

bill when you pass this type of class.

F When in doubt, don’t go out. Bad 

weather like rain, ice, 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.

F Look for routes that help you avoid 

areas where driving can be a problem. 

For example, choose a route that 

avoids highways or other high-speed 

roadways. Or, find a way to go that 

requires few or no left turns. Left turns 

can be especially dangerous because 

you have to cross oncoming traffic and 

be aware of all the cars around you.

F Ask your doctor if any of your 

health problems might make it 

unsafe for you to drive. Together, 

you can make a plan to help you 

keep driving and decide when it is 

no longer safe to drive.

Do You Have Concerns About 

an Older Driver? 

Are you worried about your parent 

or other older family member or friend 

driving? Sometimes it can be hard for an 

older person to realize that he or she is 

no longer a safe driver. You might want 

to observe the person’s driving skills. For 

example, make sure that the driver:

F Follows the rules of the road, including

speed limits, traffic lights, and stop 

signs

F Yields the right-of-way 

F Is aware of other vehicles, motorcyclists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and 

road hazards

F Merges and changes lanes safely 

and stays in the lane when turning 

and driving straight

F Can easily move the foot between 

the gas and the brake pedals, and 

does not confuse the two

If it’s not possible to observe the 

older person driving, look out for 

these signs that he or she is having 

problems at the wheel:

F Has multiple vehicle crashes, “near 

misses,” and/or new dents in the car
9 10

F Receives two or more traffic tickets 

or warnings within the last 2 years; 

increases in car insurance premiums 

because of driving issues

F Neighbors or friends observe 

unsafe driving

F Has anxiety about driving at night

F Develops health issues that might 

affect driving ability, including 

Having “The Talk” About Driving

Talking with an older person about his or her driving is often difficult. Here are some things 

that might help when having the talk.

F Be prepared. Observe the older driver for potential problems. Learn about local services 

to help someone who can no longer drive. Identify the person’s transportation needs.

F Avoid confrontation. Try having a one-on-one conversation. Use “I” messages rather 

than “You” messages. For example, say, “I am concerned about your safety when you 

are driving,” rather than, “You’re no longer a safe driver.”

F Stick to the issue. Discuss the driver’s skills, not his or her age.

F Focus on safety and maintaining independence. Be clear that the goal is for the older 

driver to continue the activities he or she currently enjoys while staying safe. Offer to 

help the person stay independent. For example, you might say, “I’ll help you figure 

out how to get where you want to go if driving isn’t possible.”

F Be positive and supportive. Recognize the importance of a driver’s license to the 

older person. Understand that he or she may become defensive, angry, hurt, or 

withdrawn. You might say: “I understand that this may be upsetting,” or “We’ll work 

together to find a solution.”

problems with vision, hearing, and/

or movement 

F Complains about the speed, 

sudden lane changes, or actions of 

other drivers

F Shares that a doctor recommended 

he or she modify driving habits or 

quit driving entirely
11 12

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 

decide, ask yourself:

F Do other drivers often honk at me? 

F Have I had some accidents, even if 

they were 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 Do I get distracted while driving?

F Have family, friends, or my doctor said 

they’re worried about my driving?

F Am I driving less these days because 

I’m 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 sometimes confuse the two?

F Have I been pulled over by a police 

officer about my driving?

If you answered “yes” to any of 

these questions, it may be time to talk 

with your doctor about driving or have 

a driving assessment.

How Will You Get Around?

Are you worried you won’t be able 

to do the things you want and need to 

do if you stop driving? If so, 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 provide free or low-cost 

bus or taxi services for older people. 

Some communities offer a carpool 

service or scheduled trips to the grocery 

store, mall, or other places of interest. 

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 your nearest 

Area Agency on Aging.

You can also think about using a car 

service. Sound pricey? Don’t forget—it 

costs a lot to own a car. If you don’t 

have to make car payments 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 buy 

gas for friends or family members who 

give you rides.
13 14

More Safe Driving Tips

Before you leave home:

F Plan to drive on streets you know.

F Only drive to places that are easy to get to and close to home.

F Avoid risky spots like ramps and left turns.

F Add extra time for travel if you must drive when conditions are poor.

F Limit how much you drive at night.

F Don’t drive when you are stressed or tired.

While you are driving:

F Always wear your seat belt and make sure your passengers wear their seat belts, too.

F Wear your glasses and/or hearing aid, if you use them.

F Stay off your cell phone.

F Avoid distractions such as eating, listening to the radio, or chatting.

F Make sure there is enough space behind your car. If someone follows you too closely, 

slow down and pull over if needed to let that person pass you.

F Use your window defrosters to keep both the front and back windows clear.

F Keep your headlights on at all times.

Car safety:

F Drive a car with air bags.

F Check your windshield wiper blades often and replace them when needed.

F Keep your headlights clean and aimed in the right direction.

F Think about getting hand controls for both the gas and brake pedals if you have 

leg problems.

F Keep your car in good repair to avoid problems on the road.
15 16

For More Information 

About Driving 

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

1-202-638-5944

publicaffairs@national.aaa.com (email)

www.seniordriving.aaa.com

AARP

1-888-687-2277 (toll-free)

1-877-342-2277 (español/línea gratis)

1-877-434-7598 (TTY/toll-free)

member@aarp.org (email)

www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety

The Hartford

1-860-547-5000

safedriving@thehartford.com (email)

www.thehartford.com/alzheimers

National Library of Medicine: 

MedlinePlus 

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/

motorvehiclesafety.html

National Center on Senior 

Transportation

1-866-528-6278 (toll-free)

1-202-347-7385 (TTY)

ncst@easterseals.com (email)

www.seniortransportation.net

National Highway Traffic 

Safety Administration

1-888-327-4236 (toll-free)

1-800-424-9153 (TTY/toll-free)

ncsaweb@dot.gov (email)

www.nhtsa.gov/Senior-Drivers

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)

niaic@nia.nih.gov (email)

www.nia.nih.gov

www.nia.nih.gov/espanol

To order publications (in English or 

Spanish) or sign up for regular email 

alerts about new publications and other 

information from the NIA, go 

to www.nia.nih.gov/health.

Visit www.nihseniorhealth.gov, a seniorfriendly website from the National 

Institute on Aging and the National 

Library of Medicine. This website has 

health and wellness information for 

older adults. Special features make it 

simple to use. For example, you can click 

on a button to make the type larger.

NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health®

March 2015

National Institute

on Aging