SENIOR DRIVER WARNING SIGNS

Getting older does not automatically turn people into bad drivers. But there are changes that can affect driving skills as we age. Specific functions related to driving skill may decline. These functions may include vision, hearing, cognition, reaction time, physical ability and loss of sensation. As a senior driver rehabilitation specialist, I am often asked what warning signs to look for in an older driver that may be having difficulty. The following is a list of the most common signs:

• Needing more help than in the past with directions or learning a new route
• Having trouble remembering the destination or locating a parked car
• Getting lost in familiar places
• Having trouble making left turns
• Receiving citations for moving violations
• Finding that others frequently honk their horns
• Stopping at green lights or braking inappropriately
• Drifting out of their road lane
• Having difficulty controlling emotions while driving
• Becoming easily distracted while driving
• Difficulty parking vehicle within a defined space
• Unexplained scrapes or dents on the car, mailbox or garage

Difficulty in any of these areas may warrant assessment by a physican and possibly a DriverRehabilitation Specialist.
Submitted by Laura Noblitt OTR, DRS; Senior Driving & Mobility Services, LLC