00:00A Guide to Knowing When It's No Longer Safe for Seniors to Drive
00:03Age affects everyone differently, with unsafe drivers in every age.
00:10In 2021, 8,209 fatalities involved drivers aged 65 or older.
00:17Older adults often resist relinquishing licenses, believing in lifelong driving skills.
00:23However, health conditions can impair driving, warns the National Institute on Aging.
00:30Remedies like glasses or hearing aids may help, but solutions are frequently complex.
00:35Chronic illnesses challenge independence and road safety.
00:39Seniors face higher crash injury risks.
00:43Signs to stop driving are stiff joints, weakened muscles, and chronic pain.
00:48These symptoms hinder crucial driving tasks.
00:52NHTSA warns that medications like antipsychotics, anti-seizure drugs, muscle relaxants, opioids,
00:59and antidepressants can cause effects like drowsiness, dizziness, and blurred vision, making driving hazardous.
01:07Avoid driving post-medication for safety.
01:10Medical conditions like dementia, Parkinson's, and epilepsy impair driving by affecting memory and decision-making.
01:22Epilepsy requires reporting to the driver and vehicle licensing agency and seizure-free status.
01:27Signs of unsafe driving include erratic speed, frequent accidents, traffic violations, vehicle damage, getting lost, difficulty seeing signs, night driving anxiety, and concerns from friends or family about safety.
01:42Consult a health care provider if concerned about driving abilities.
01:47Assess skills with specialists.
01:50Stay healthy through exercise.
01:51Use prescribed aids.
01:53Plan drives to avoid issues.
01:55And eliminate distractions while driving for safety.
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