Driving safely as you age
Many things change over the years: as we get older, our vitality declines, illnesses occur, and taking medication becomes increasingly unavoidable. Some people may readily admit: “I am not good at seeing well, but I am good at hearing badly.” All of this also has consequences for
participation in road traffic.
For a certain amount of time, the many years driving experience can compensate for such changes, at least partially. However, in addition to hearing and vision, mobility and the ability to react and cope with complex traffic situations can also deteriorate. At some point, the question arises:
Am I still fit enough to drive?
An honest answer is needed. The 65+ age group alone accounts for more than one-third of traffic fatalities. The consequences of accidents are also generally more serious for older people than for younger people.
Many people put off dealing with this issue. After all, driving is such an important part of our quality of life, and, in fact, is intricately connected to our feeling of independence, autonomy and freedom. In can be a great help to get a clear and honest assessments of one’s current state of health. The initiative www.team-vision-zero.de, for example, provides information on a simple self-test covering the areas of vision, hearing, mobility and responsiveness. Driving schools, automobile clubs and experts also offer various services that allow participants to clarify where they are at without having to fear negative consequences.
The DEKRA Health Check, for example, is strictly confidential and completely voluntary. In the first place, it provides well-founded statements on driving performance, responsiveness, alertness and resilience. Secondly it looks at physical fitness and clarifies concerns about existing illnesses and necessary medications. There is also an observed driving session, which provides valuable feedback on abilities in real-life traffic situations. "The results are explained in detail by our experts. A certificate and further recommendations are also provided. It is left up to the individual to decide what to do with this knowledge," explains Thomas Wagner, driving fitness expert at DEKRA.