Teen, elderly, and drunk drivers are often classified as the most dangerous drivers on the road; their inexperience, deteriorating health, and intoxication levels respectively make them more susceptible to distracted or reckless driving. But responsible drivers of all ages can be just as dangerous on the road if they have certain medical or health problems that compromise their reaction time or their ability to make proper judgments.
Here are a few health issues that may affect your driving.
Poor Vision
Poor vision is one of the most common and easily rectified driving hazards. Anyone, from teens with their learning permits to experienced adult drivers, can suffer from common myopia or hyperopia. In these cases, your driver’s license will indicate that you have a “corrective lens” restriction, and it will be illegal for you to drive without glasses or contact lens.
Other vision problems that might affect your ability drive safely include the following:
– Cataracts cloud the lens of your eye and result in blurry or double vision. It can be particularly difficult to see at night.
– Glaucoma is a common condition that destroys the optic nerve. This results in blurry vision or loss of peripheral vision, which is vital to safe driving. Fortunately, glaucoma can be corrected in most cases.
– Macular Degeneration affects millions of people over the age of 40. It attacks the retina, which leads to hazy vision, blind spots, and poor night vision.
If you have any of these conditions, consult with an optometrist. In most cases, these problems won’t stop you from holding a driver’s license unless they go untreated.
Mobility Problems
Elderly drivers are stereotypically more likely to suffer from restricted mobility that impairs their driving than younger drivers. That doesn’t mean that younger drivers can’t also suffer from mobility problems, of course, but they are more likely to have temporary issues like broken limbs or other injuries.
More permanent problems are not as easily resolved, and can severely affect your driving ability.
– Arthritis can make your joints swollen and stiff, which can limit how far and fast you can move your neck, shoulders, and hands. This slows your reaction time significantly and can make it difficult to grasp the steering wheel or apply pressure on the brake and gas pedals.
Your continued ability to drive will depend on how successfully your doctor can treat your condition.
– Chronic Pain in your joints, muscles, or back will reduce your reaction time. Dealing with chronic pain is distracting, and might take your attention off the road. Monitor your pain levels carefully, and speak with your doctor about ways to keep it under control.
– Other mobility issues can include hip and knee replacements, which are common among senior citizens. They can make it difficult to operate the gas and brake pedals as well as climb in and out of the car.
Mental Acuity
If a loved one is starting to struggle with memory or mental alertness, monitor their driving carefully. Lack of attention or distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents, and older people are especially susceptible to confused driving if they suffer from dementia or memory loss. If a loved one with mental health problems does gets into an accident, contact an ICBC lawyer in Langley like Cristall Kenneth who can help you through the emotional and physical stress.
– Dementia affected approximately 35.6 million people were worldwide in 2010. It is an incredibly frustrating disease for the ill individual and family members. However, since dementia compromises memory, judgment, reasoning, and language skills, sharing a road with an affected person can be hazardous. And not only is it dangerous for other drivers, but the driver can become confused, distressed, and make minor driving errors that cause them stress and put their safety at risk.
– Medications can compromise your ability to drive. Whether it’s a prescription medication or Tylenol for a headache, be careful that any medicine you take does not affect your concentration or make you sleepy—fatigued driving is another leading cause of accidents in America.
– Strokes are also common in elderly drivers. Stroke victims can suffer from partial vision loss, memory problems, loss of sensation, and a slower reaction time. Driving for stroke victims is both difficult and unsafe.
In addition to mental difficulties, be careful that you are in an emotionally safe place when you drive. Being extremely angry or upset can impair your ability to focus on the road and drivers around you, and will make driving more dangerous. Wait to drive until you are in an emotionally and mentally stable state.
Some health issues are out of your control, but be aware of how they affect your driving. If you notice that you or a loved one is having trouble driving safely, address and treat the problem with the help of a medical professional and keep the roads safe for you and everyone else.