Driving and mobility

Continuing to drive has a number of benefits:

• Social interaction is easier as you can drive to club events and social gatherings etc.
• The independence of not having to rely on friends and family to go on short trips for shopping etc.
• The entertainment value of getting out and about rather than being stuck in your residence all the time.

Statistics of elderly drivers have shown that, while elderly drivers seem to have fewer accidents, if accident rates are based on the number of kilometres driven, the only drivers with a higher accident rate are teenagers. The main reasons for this are ageing related factors such as the loss of peripheral vision, slower processing and reaction times and altered depth perception. Always check first with your local physician or doctor to see if you are still able to drive effectively.

With this in mind it is important to be aware of driving situations and how physical conditions may affect those conditions and your ability to cope.

For additional information about driving and testing if required, contact your local council or state licensing offices:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

An excellent checklist for carers and people with elderly partners is available at Ageing Parents and Elder Care.