Aging and Driving: Overcoming Challenges for Older Adults, Lecture notes of Decision Making

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SEEING

In answering these questions, assume that you are wearing glasses or contact lenses if you normally do.

Questions: Feedback:

Would you say your eyesight now using both eyes (with glasses or contact lenses, if you wear them) is:

Excellent Good Fair Poor

How much do you worry about how well you see now?

Not at all A little Some A lot

Has a doctor ever told you that you are blind in one eye?

NO Yes I

You may have a vision problem. As we age, we experience declines in our vision. There are several types of vision declines that could increase the chance of being in an accident. These declines relate to our ability to read traffic signs, recover our focus at night, quickly detect brake lights, and correctly judge the speed and location of other cars around us. While some vision problems are not correctable, many problems can be corrected under a doctor's care.

b It is important to get regular eye exams.

b Let the eye doctor know about any changes in your vision.

Questions: Feedback:

In general, how much diff~cultydo you have carrying on a conversation and listening to the radio or television at the same time?

None A little Some A lot

While you are driving, how much difficulty do you have also talking with passengers?

None A little Some A lot 1

While you are driving, how much difflculty do you have also changing the radio station?

None A little Some A lot

You may be having a problem with "divided attentionw-the ability to do two things at once, such as keeping track of your driving speed and what other cars are doing at the same time. Research shows that tasks requiring divided attention, such as driving, become harder as we age. In normal driving, we must divide our attention among several things. The task becomes more difficult when there are distractions, either in the car (a radio or passenger) or outside (bad weather).

Keep your eyes on the road while you are driving.

Reduce distractions inside your car, such as talking with passengers, trying to read a road map, changing radio stations, or talking on the phone.

Drive when there are fewer distractions outside (such as bad weather or heavy traffic).

Plan your trip in advance.

Have a passenger help you find your way.

Avoid driving in unfamiliar areas.

b Avoid busy traffic situations.