Do you recall the day you passed your drivers test? Feeling the excitement of achieving such a monumental goal and the thrill and anxiety of taking on such a huge responsibility moving forward? And how can we forget freedom. The pleasure of coming and going as you wish, no longer relying on your parents or pesky siblings to haul you around town.
As we get older, the excitement of this milestone will likely diminish, but the drive for freedom and independence continues as we age. The loss of a driver’s license can be devastating to a senior citizen. When deciding if it’s still safe to drive, there are many variables that must be taken into account, but here are a few tips to help keep your driver’s license in your wallet and you safely on the road.
- Annual eye exams are essential. Cataracts, Age Related Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma are common age-related vision problems that may cause difficulty driving and seeing clearly at night. Speak with your physician about possible treatment options available. Cataract surgery, for instance, is a common procedure that could vastly improve vision afterwards.
- Update Your Glasses. Keeping your glasses prescription up-to-date is very important. We can’t expect to wear the same pair of pants we wore 10 years ago, so don’t expect your eyes to stay the same either. If your eyes have changed, a new glasses prescription can make a world of difference.
- Remove all possible distractions and obstructions. Here in Minnesota, different risks arise with each season, producing plenty of distractions and obstructions that can damper your vision. Whether it’s snow, dusty roads, construction or something as small as tree sap, it’s important to keep your line of sight clear. Make sure to change your windshield wipers when needed and keep your headlights spick-and-span. Keeping your mirrors (both inside and out) clean will help tremendously as well.
- Turn up the lights! Crank up the dial on your internal dashboard brightness. This will make it easier to see your gauges and pertinent console information.
- Decide what time and place is best for you. As we age, our pupils become smaller and don’t adjust as quickly to incoming light. This can result in decreased visibility while driving at night. If you have trouble seeing clearly during certain times of the day or during certain weather conditions, avoid getting behind the wheel at those times. Many drivers enjoy sticking to areas they know, making the commute familiar and a little less stressful.
Sources: www.mayoclinic.org & www.helpguide.org
