Staying in the Driver’s Seat
As time ticks along there are changes experienced by just about everyone that can impact driving ability. There are the nearly universal declines in reflexes, vision, and hearing, but feeling uneasy about returning to the road after recovering from an illness, injury, or surgery are also realities faced by many people.
“Driving is not the same as when you first learned,” says geriatric psychologist Linda Ercoli, PhD, UCLA Division of Geriatrics.“Anyone whos is not feeling comfortable behind the wheel should definitely consider a driver safety assessment.”
Driver refresher courses as well as driving assessments from certified specialists can help you drive more safely and confidently. Some may even save you money on car insurance, and most are low in cost.
Refresh Your Skill and Knowledge
Driver education programs designed for older adults are widely available in classroom settings and online. Intended for currently licensed drivers, these courses review rules of the road, driving techniques, and state-specific laws as well address issues of interest to older drivers. For example, the AARP Smart Driver course is an accident prevention program designed for drivers age 55 and older. Content covered in the comprehensive interactive course includes research-based safety strategies that can reduce vehicular collisions, the effects of medications on driving, and how best to monitor your own and others’ driving capabilities. It takes about six hours to complete the online course, which can be done in several sessions, but it must be completed within 60 days. If you prefer classroom courses, AARP offers many throughout the Los Angeles area and nationwide. They also offer a live and online version of a workshop called Smart DriverTek. It explains the latest high-tech safety features possibly in your current car, what technology to look for when shopping for a new car, and how these features may improve your peace of mind and keep you safer on the road. For more information and to find courses, go to aarpdriversafety.org.
Similarly, AAA’s Roadwise Driver is a course that can be taken online or in a classroom. The course covers such topics as dealing with distractions and aggressive drivers, compensating for slower reflexes, and understanding vehicle technologies. Like the AARP course, there are potential car insurance discounts for successfully completed AAA courses. To find out just how savvy you are on the road now, check out their Drivers 65 Plus brochure which has 15 questions to help you examine your current driving performance and get a sense of your strengths and weakness. You can find it and a list of driver improvement course offerings at seniordriving.aaa.com.
Professional Driving Assessments
Professional driving assessments typically fall into two categories; driving skills evaluation and clinical driving assessments. The former assesses your driving abilities and makes recommendations for other courses, if warranted. State-licensed driving instructors can provide a quick and relatively inexpensive driving skills assessment. Check local driving schools or call your local department of motor vehicles (DMV) for referrals.
A clinical assessment checks for underlying medical causes that could be impacting driving performance and offers ways to address them. You might consider such an evaluation if you’re concerned about how your medications or medical conditions might be impacting your driving. These assessments are conducted by driver rehabilitation specialists, or occupational and physical therapists who specialize in driver rehabilitation. Evaluations typically include assessing muscle strength, flexibility, range of motion, coordination and reaction time, and decision-making skills. Specialists can also help with and recommend adaptive vehicle equipment that may improve driving ability. Primary care physicians typically refer to such specialists. You can also check with rehabilitation departments at major medical centers, such as the UCLA Department of Rehabilitation. The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists has a robust search function where you can find experts; go to http://tiny.cc/xc8vhz.
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