Seniors Driving Under the Influence

Posted on August 29, 2009 in Health & Medicine

Thousands of older Americans are hitting the road every day, not knowing that they are breaking the law and driving under the influence. It isn’t illegal drugs or alcohol, it is their own medication that may be impairing their ability to drive safely.

Many of the medications taken by seniors on a daily basis for a wide range of common health problems can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired vision. A study from the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety found that many adults over the age of 55 who are taking these medications don’t know that their ability to drive a car could be affected.

Of the 630 drivers over the age of 55 who participated in the survey, 75% were on some kind of medication with side effects that could impair driving ability. Of these, 73% were not aware of these side effects and only 17% had been warned about them by their physicians.

Seniors have the highest accident rate per mile driven of any age group, and are more susceptible to the side effects of prescription drugs. Therefore it is even more important that doctors with older patients warn them about driving while taking certain medications. It is also important for patients to educate themselves and take a proactive role in making sure that they are fully alert and able when they sit behind the wheel of a car.