DRIVING SAFELY AS YOU AGE
While there is no age at which you must surrender your driver’s license, research has shown that the risk of having a health condition that impacts your ability to drive safely increases with age. For this reason, the province of Alberta requires medical testing at age 75, 80 and every 2 years after age 80 to maintain your class 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 driver’s license1. A vision test is a necessary component of these medical exams.
It’s not always easy to detect changes in physical, sensory or cognitive ability that may affect the safe operation of a motor vehicle. Aging changes within our eyes reduces our ability to detect contrast – seeing an object on its background. An eye chart usually over-estimates this metric due to the high contrast of the dark letters on a very light background. Driving at night or poor weather may be challenging for older folks even if they meet or exceed the vision standard on an eye chart. In these cases our doctors will often recommend a restriction be placed on someone’s driver’s license – such as driving during daylight hours only or within a certain radius of home.
Keeping a driver’s license well into older age is very important to some. It helps them maintain their independence, freedom and mobility, therefore leading to improved mental health. However, there is recognition of the added risks with age and the value of a medical practitioner’s opinion. In one study2 polling those aged 60-100, a majority of participants valued the doctor’s assessment of driving suitability and agreed with making an eye exam mandatory.
During your eye exam we are committed to informing you of any conditions or risk factors that may affect your ability to drive safely. Book your next eye exam to start the discussion today.
1. Information for aging drivers | Alberta.ca
2. Driving in old age: why Britons would like more help in deciding when to stop (theconversation.com)