The Impact of Aging on Driving and Resources Available to Assist with Planning

Peggy P. Barco, OTD, OTR/L, CDRS, FAOTA, Professor, Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Advancements in medical science have significantly improved the diagnosis and treatment of various health conditions, enabling many of us to live longer, healthier lives. As we age, maintaining our quality of life becomes increasingly important, and for many aging adults, the ability to drive plays a critical role in preserving independence. Driving allows individuals to stay connected with their communities, engage in meaningful activities, and access essential services.

However, the aging process brings unique challenges, including medical conditions that may impact driving ability. Vision impairments such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts can affect safety while driving in certain conditions. Neurological and physical conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, dementia, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and strokes, may influence cognitive and motor function related to driving. Additionally, medications, often taken in combinations, can cause side effects that may impact alertness and reaction time. These factors have the potential to compromise driving safety, not only for the individual but for others on
the road as well.

Uncertainty about driving safety with various health conditions is a common concern individuals and families have. Not all health conditions impact driving safety and every individual’s health course is very unique. The availability of resources to help guide decision making related to driving safety when faced with medical concerns and life transitions can be very helpful.

STEPS TO ASSESS AND PLAN FOR DRIVING SAFETY

Consult Your Physician: Discuss how any medical conditions or medications may impact your driving safety.

Assess Your Own Driving Abilities by asking yourself these questions:

• Have I been in accidents or received traffic tickets since the onset of my
  health condition?
• Are there any unexplained scratches or dents on my vehicle?
• Have I had any close calls or near-miss accidents?
• Do I feel more anxious when driving?
• Have family members or loved ones expressed concern about my driving?

Consult with an Occupational Therapy Driving Rehabilitation Specialist:

A valuable resource that many individuals may not be aware of is an Occupational Therapy Driving Rehabilitation Specialist. These professionals are occupational therapists who have extra training, knowledge and expertise in evaluating how various health conditions impact driving ability and providing recommendations to improve safety.

OT Driving Rehabilitation specialists can provide comprehensive driving rehabilitation evaluations with a referral from a physician. These evaluations are focused on determining best recommendations related to driving and various health conditions.

Occupational Therapy Comprehensive Driving Evaluations are typically 3 to 4 hours and include the following:

• Assessment of vision, motor and cognitive functions specific to driving and the individual’s health condition.
• Observing driving performance in the real world using a vehicle equipped with a passenger side brake for safety.
• Providing personalized recommendations based on the evaluation results.

These recommendations can include
continuing to drive as usual, recommendations or modifications in driving routines for improving safety, recommendations for adaptive equipment, training to enhance driving skills, or transitioning from driving and identifying alternative transportation options.

As occupational therapy driving rehabilitation specialists, our goal is to find ways to help individuals continue driving for as long as they can safely do so. At Washington University Program in Occupational Therapy, we understand the importance of independence and approach these decisions with both professionalism and empathy, ensuring that individuals receive the guidance they need to make informed and safe choices.

Resources (available to the public) that you may also find useful below:

Evaluate your driving ability (AAA):

How to Understand and Influence Older Drivers (NHTSA)

https://www.nhtsa.gov/older-drivers/how-understand-and-influence-older-drivers
We Need to talk (AARP)

https://www.aarp.org/auto/driver-safety/we-need-to-talk/
For further information regarding driving assessments contact Peggy Barco, at Washington University Medical School, Program in Occupational Therapy (barcop@wustl.edu, https://otservices.wustl.edu/items/driving-evaluations/).