Aging is inevitable (and it beats the alternative), but a lot of people struggle with the physical and cognitive changes they experience in the process – and this includes learning to accept their limitations when it comes to driving.
There are numerous changes brought upon by aging that can affect someone’s driving skills, no matter what their level of experience. These include:
Changes in vision
As people age, their pupil size decreases, which means their eyes take in less light. At dawn, dusk and late at night in poorly lit areas of the road, older drivers often have difficulty seeing the road. Other changes in their eyes, such as cataracts, can also make older drivers increasingly sensitive to glare from headlights, streetlights and traffic signals. It’s perfectly possible for an older driver to have 20/20 vision with corrective lenses in the daylight and still not be able to see to drive safely at night.
Cognitive decline
Driving is a complex activity at any time, but it’s especially so at night when visibility is limited. Unfortunately, memory, attention spans and processing speed also tend to decline with age, making it harder for drivers to respond to sudden changes on the road. They may have slower reaction times, which can be a problem in heavy traffic, and greater difficulty navigating, reading road signs and staying aware of other vehicles all at once.
Physical limitations
Finally, the older the driver, the higher the odds that they’re on some form of medication to treat a chronic health condition – and many of those medications can have side-effects that include blurred vision, drowsiness or dizziness. That can make for dangerous driving at any time of day, but especially at night when fatigue may be setting in.
If you end up in a wreck with an older driver at night, it’s important to protect your right to fair compensation for your injuries and other losses.
