It's no secret that many people face mobility challenges as they get older, and falls are a significant source of injury for seniors. What's less obvious is that falls are also linked to a greater risk of motor-vehicle accidents in older adults — because the same limitations that cause falls can also make driving difficult.
How Falling Connects to a Crash
Falls often cause injuries — broken legs or wrist fractures — that limit mobility. They also create an increased fear of falling, which leads to less physical activity and more medical treatment. The result is a frailer condition, disability, and weaker driving skills from slower reaction times, which raises the chance of an accident and mounting medical bills.
Other age-related factors affect driving too, because similar motor skills and sensory functions are involved:
- Three-quarters of drivers age 65 or older take one or more medications, but surveys show fewer than a third understand it may affect their ability to drive.
- As many as 80% of people in their 70s have limited range of motion and chronic pain from arthritic conditions. When turning the wheel or braking becomes painful, reaction times slow.
Tips To Reduce the Risk
Medication and arthritis may be difficult to change, but the risk of falls can be reduced by improving the health problems behind them:
- Poor balance and lower-body weakness can be improved through an appropriate exercise program.
- Other causes of falls — dizziness, vision problems, medication side effects — can be discussed with a physician to find a solution.
- Many older drivers have difficulty admitting when it's time to stop driving; it can be easier to hear from a medical professional, so a visit with the family physician can help.
There are steps you can take to help a loved one stay a safe driver as they age — but the best thing is to recognize when some factors are beyond your control. Deciding to stop driving isn't easy, and it comes with real pride challenges, but sometimes everyone is safer for it.