As we age, we experience a steady decline in certain skills that are very important for safe driving. Although not everyone ages at the same rate, beginning around age 55, we begin a gradual decrease in our ability to process information, remember and make judgements in traffic situations. A good example is determining the distance and approach time of oncoming traffic.
Visual losses are the most significant, however.
We need more light to distinguish features along the roadway, must be closer to read signs and follow other traffic cues. Older eyes also need more time to recover from the glare of bright headlights at night. And these visual losses begin very early in life - around age 20. By the year 2020, one in four Florida residents will be 65 and older. Of these almost one half will be 75 or older.