Driving Skills

Mobility is a key component in any individual’s quality of life. Aging, however, affects critical driving skills in a number of ways and can make it dangerous for the senior citizen and others on the roadway if the person continues to drive. This section provides some information on driving skills and links to web sites that give an accurate picture of road safety and the older driver.

Why?  The Affects of Aging on Driving Ability

Functional decline related to aging does not affect all drivers at the same rate or in the same way. Although specific abilities needed to drive safely — such as vision, memory, physical strength, reaction time, and flexibility — may decline as we age, the rate of change varies greatly across the older adult population.

Many older adults do not differ significantly in their driving habits from their middle-aged counterparts, who statistically are the safest group on the road. By improving their functioning, by learning new or compensatory strategies, or by using and training on adaptive equipment, many older adults can continue to drive safely. Providing information about alternative ways to get around, communities also can help older adults make smoother transitions from driving full-time to cutting back or stopping driving altogether. See further information on the Local Community Resources web page.

Common Older Driver Errors

• Left turns
• Impaired driving (prescription and over the counter medication)
• Nighttime driving
• Merging into traffic
• Improper lane change, failure to yield, disregarding traffic signs and signals

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) report,  "Intersection Negotiation Problems" can be accessed at this link:  http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/olddrive/oldvol1/vol1tablecontent.html#vol1table

The National Safety Council, Journal of Safety Research "Assessment of older drivers: Relationships among on-road errors, medical conditions and test outcome", can be accessed at this link: http://www.nsc.org/issues/driving/JSR%20415-429.pdf

The AAA Foundation Report, "Enhancement of Driving Performance Among Older Drivers" can be accessed at this link: http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/EnhancingSeniorDrivingPerfReport.pdf

Difficulty in Judging Speed and Distance

FHWA Publication - Public Roads, January/February 2007, Vol. 70, No. 4, "Older Drivers at a Crossroads," by David A. Morena, W. Scott Wainwright, and Fred Ranck at this link:  http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/07jan/02.htm

CarFit

Carfit is an educational program created by the American Society on Aging and developed in collaboration with American Automobile Association (AAA), AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association. Carfit offers older adults the opportunity to check out how well their personal vehicles "fit" them, information and materials for community-specific resources and activities that could make their personal vehicles "fit" better, enhance their safety as drivers, or increase their mobility in the community. Information on Carfit can be accessed at this link: http://www.car-fit.org

More information on our Florida Carfit program, including where to find events in your area can be found on the Vehicle Page.
 

Education and Training

If you have a Florida Driver's License and are 55 years of age or older, you are now eligible to complete a motor vehicle accident prevention course that will allow you to receive a mandatory reduction on your insurance rate for three years (Section 627.0652, F.S.) A listing of these approved courses can be accessed at this link: http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/mature_discount.html

Florida Safety Council is one of the approved insurance discount courses mentioned above and is offered in either a classroom or online. The goal of the insurance discount class is to help mature drivers over the age of 55 within the state of Florida maintain their safe and defensive driving skills, obtain auto insurance discounts, understand their abilities and learn techniques to compensate for changes. Also provides defensive driving training for court-ordered seniors. More information on both the classroom and online course can be accessed at this link: http://www.floridasafety.org/coursetext.asp?class=5

NHTSA's publication "Safe Driving for Older Adults" provides tips for older drivers and can be accessed at this link: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/olddrive/OlderAdultswebsite

The Florida GrandDriver Program is an education and awareness campaign of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and is based on a program developed by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. The goal of the campaign is to educate the public about the effects of age on driving ability and to encourage drivers to make appropriate choices as we age - choices that maximize personal safety and the safety of our communities. Access their educational resources at this link: http://www.floridagranddriver.com

DriveWell is a comprehensive information program designed to encourage older drivers to change when and how they drive. Access presentations, handouts and facts sheets at this link: http://www.asaging.org/asav2/drivewell/index.cfm?CFID=22300153&CFTOKEN=71794017

AARP's Driver Safety Program information can be accessed at this link:  http://www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety

 

Driver Skills Assessment

A skills assessment is designed to help older drivers determine whether it is wise for them to continue driving. There are a number of skills assessment tools including evaluation by professionals or self-assessment forms that can help seniors make good decisions about driving.

How to locate skills assessment services in Florida:

Florida GrandDriver Program, sponsored by the DHSMV:   www.floridagranddriver.com/index.cfm

List of Occupational Therapists in Florida offering driver evaluations:   www.floridagranddriver.com/listOTCDRS.cfm

DriveABLE™ offers various assessment tools and can be accessed at this link:  http://driveable.com/index.php/drivers.html

Self Assessment

Resources for self-assessment can be located at the following web sites:

Florida Senior Safety Resource Center online survey: http://fssrc.phhp.ufl.edu/assessQuestion.php

DHSMV's – Transportation Lifetime Choices: http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us//ddl/tlc.html

AMA self assessment: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/433/appendixb.pdf

American Association of Family Practice Physicians, “Decisions About Driving” tool kit: https://secure.aafp.org/catalog/viewItem.do?number=978

AAA Roadwise Review driver screening tool, "A Tool to Help Seniors Drive Safely Longer": http://www.aaaexchange.com

NHTSA's How is your driving health?: http://www.nhtsa.com/people/injury/olddrive/modeldriver/1_app_c.htm

Self rating form for drivers 55+: http://www.aaafoundation.org/quizzes/index.cfm?button=driver55

Florida GrandDriver Program: http://www.floridagranddriver.com

A New York Times article on "Are You a Good Driver? Here’s How to Find Out" can be accessed at this link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/automobiles/30TRAIN.html?_r=2&ref=automobiles&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

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