A study by the AAA Traffic Foundation says more than three-fourths of seniors take medications, but most of them don't realize that many of their drugs can have a negative impact on their driving.
Older drivers can have slower reaction times as part of the aging process. Add in the impact of medications, and it could cause serious problems. Medications such as ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, sedatives and pain killers can impair driving, according to the AAA.
Surprisingly, only 18% of seniors surveyed reported receiving a warning from their doctors about the impact of their drugs on their driving ability. The study also found that 69% used one or more medications that could alter their driving, and 10% used five or more medications.
AAA has a handy Web page offering tips to mature drivers. Click here to read the information.
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Can you imagine what medicinal marijuana would do to an 80-year-old driver -- not to mention having the muchies and being impaired while driving?
ReplyDeleteWhat? Are the cops going to have medical checkpoints now, pulling over granny and gramps because they are high on blood pressure medicine? Come on, folks. What's next? A study saying coffee makes drivers jittery and that means they are impaired? These studies are just busy work to keep academics employed. They mean nothing in the real world.
ReplyDeleteAny substance that impairs your judgment is dangerous while driving -- whether it is illegal drugs or prescription medications. This is a good wakeup call to seniors.
ReplyDeleteDriving while sleepy impairs reflexes and causes an estimated 150,000 MVA deaths a year too. It's also now reported that cell phone use/texting while driving impairs drivers to the same degree alcohol does. So, probably 60% of the drivers we pass on the roadways are either driving under the infulence of alcohol, drugs (legal or illegal),are tired, or texting. It makes staying at home sound so much safer. But then you run the risk of dying from boredom. Guess it depends on just how you want to go.
ReplyDeleteDon't let anybody kid you. Driving while tired is a big problem. But you are not as impaired as being drunk or on pot. If anyone tells you that driving while tired is worse than driving drunk, they are really, really drunk. You can look it up. But get plenty of sleep before driving.
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