Safe Driving Tips for Older New Yorkers

Older Driver

Driving is a critical part of our daily lives – our lifeline, ensuring we can pick up groceries, see our family, get to work and visit our doctors. However, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver fatality rates in older drivers between the ages of 75 and 85+ is similar to those of 16 to 18 year old drivers. Various health conditions and declines in visual, thinking and physical abilities that occur with aging can affect driving ability; and if you take multiple medications to help those conditions, you could be putting yourself and others in danger.

Staying Safe

Know the Facts Now Before a Crash Occurs

Safe Driving Tips

Older drivers can continue to drive safely using the right supports to ensure driving fitness. Consider the following steps to stay safe on the road.

Rx Drugs and Driving

One of the greatest threats to safe driving is impaired driving. Two-thirds of older drivers take five or more daily medications, which may affect their ability to drive safely. Some drug cocktails can produce dementia-like symptoms and others may impact your physical ability to drive your vehicle.

Take a Driver Safety Course

Reduce your insurance premiums by up to 10% annually by taking a driver safety course online or in person.

2/3 Drivers 65+ Take 5+ Daily Medications

Medications & Driving = A Prescription for Trouble

Take Inventory

Make sure you have a current and accurate list of all medications and supplements you may be taking. This is helpful to your doctor when you’re visiting and discussing medication options. Its also good practice to run this list by your pharmacist on a regular basis, to spot any possible negative interactions or indications.

Be Informed and Ask Questions

When your doctor is prescribing a new medication, be sure to ask them about possible side-effects. If the new medication has a caution about driving, talk to your doctor about possible alternatives, or suggestions for how to safely drive while taking that prescription.

Consider Alternate Transportation

If a new medication is known to possibly impair driving, make alternate arrangements for transportation. Ask a friend or loved one for a ride, or contact your local Office for Aging to learn about transportation options for older adults in your area.

Take Action

What You Can Do to Keep Yourself and Others Safe

Check Your Medications

Find out if any drugs you’re taking are affecting your driving abilities by using the online tool Roadwise Rx. You can enter the names of your medications and find out if, and how, their interactions could affect driving safety.

Read the Drivers & Caregivers Handbook

Learn how to facilitate a conversation with a loved one when it’s no longer safe for them to drive.

Use Adaptive Equipment

Physical challenges do not have to keep an older person from driving. Adaptive equipment like hand controls and extended mirrors can compensate for physical challenges and provide safety and confidence for an older driver.

Funded by:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with a grant from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee

CONTACT INFORMATION
Older Driver Safety Program Inquiries
Robert Lopez
Highway Safety Program Representative
The Governor's Traffic Safety Committee
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
6 Empire State Plaza, Room 410B
Albany, NY 12228
518-474-5111