Ageing and safe driving

There’s a great deal of misinformation around about older drivers.

When compared to drivers in younger age groups, older drivers are usually more cautious, more experienced and more responsible. They're more likely to obey the law and are less likely to drink drive or speed.

However, driving is a privilege which brings with it responsibilities. This fact sheet outlines steps you can take to continue to drive safely.

All drivers, no matter what age, should routinely consider 'am I still fit to drive?'

Many of us drive every day without thinking about the risks that come with being behind the wheel. All of us need to make sure we are fit to drive, or we risk harming ourselves and others.

If you have or develop a serious, permanent or long-term illness, disability, medical condition or injury, you must:

• talk to a doctor about how it might affect your driving
• contact Medical Review to report your condition
• send Medical Review a medical report from a doctor who knows your medical history.

Keeping yourself and others safe

Older drivers are more vulnerable to being injured or killed in a car crash. This is because our bodies become frailer as we age and less able to withstand the physical impact of a crash.

In addition, some health conditions and physical changes are more common with ageing and can have an impact on our driving ability.

Being alert to the health and related conditions that might affect our ability to drive safely is our best protection, and the best protection for other people on the road. 

Adapting to physical and mental change

Getting older or having medical conditions doesn’t mean you have to stop driving.

In Victoria, drivers aren't required to pass a licence test when they reach a particular age. Retaining your driver licence is determined by your behaviour and medical fitness to drive.

There are some changes that happen with age that affect your ability to drive safely. These changes can be physical or changes to memory and thinking.

They include:

• changes to your eyesight
• changes to your memory
• hearing loss
• your ability to make decisions or react quickly when driving
• increased use of medications
• reduced mobility caused by stiffness, pain or weakness.

Often these changes happen very slowly. It's important to know what they are so you can assess how they might affect your ability to drive. 

Self assessment guide

The statements in this guide are designed to help you think objectively about your current driving capability. We've provided suggestions for actions you could take if you answer yes to any of these.

Reduced mobility

Statement

Actions you can take

I have trouble turning my head or looking over my shoulder to check for traffic. I find it hard to move my foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal. I find it hard to turn the steering wheel. I have trouble reversing my car as I find it hard to turn to look behind me.

An occupational therapist trained in driver assessment can help you work out vehicle modifications and adjustments that will best support you. Examples of vehicle modifications include: Reversing cameras and ‘stick on’ blind spot mirrors to assist when neck mobility is reduced. Steering aids, to assist with limited arm function. You could also ask for a simple exercise programme to help keep you strong and flexible. Your doctor or physiotherapist can provide an appropriate exercise program for your health needs.

Changes to vision

Statement	Actions you can take
When I've been looking at something close to me, it’s sometimes hard to focus on things that are far away. It's getting harder to judge gaps in the traffic when I merge or turn at an intersection. I sometimes have trouble seeing road signs, lane markings, other vehicles or pedestrians. I find it harder to see at twilight or at night. Glare at night affects me more than it used to.	Visit your optometrist or ophthalmologist at least once every two years. Our vision changes as we age, but poor vision can often be corrected with a pair of glasses. Other conditions may require treatment or surgery to prevent further vision loss. Regular eye checks are important for all drivers. More information about conditions affecting vision can be found in our vision and driving fact sheet.

Medications and general health

Statement	Actions you can take
I take one or more medications daily. I’m unsure if the medications I take can make me sleepy or affect my driving. I sometimes drink alcohol as well as taking medications regularly. I have been diagnosed with a serious or chronic health condition.	Many medications can affect your mental alertness and coordination, especially when combined with alcohol. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about how your medications may affect your driving.  Our your health and driving fact sheet explains what to do if you're diagnosed with a number of health conditions. The first step is to discuss the implications for driving with your doctor.

Driving practice

Statement

Actions you can take

I sometimes find myself driving too slowly and holding up traffic. Other motorists sometimes honk at me. Intersections bother me because there is too much to watch from all directions. I find it difficult to decide when to merge with traffic on a busy highway. I think I'm slower than I used to be in reacting to dangerous driving situations. I don’t like driving to unfamiliar locations anymore. I’m less confident on the roads than I used to be and feel anxious about how busy they are. I worry that I’m not keeping up with changes to the road rules.

Consider booking a lesson with a driving instructor to receive some independent, objective feedback on your driving. Allow plenty of time for your journey and plan your route, including where you'll park. Take plenty of rests and don’t drive when you are tired. Drive less and reduce the amount of long distance driving you undertake. Don’t drive to unfamiliar places if possible. Bookmark the road rules and safety page to help you keep up with changes to road rules.

Time to plan for a change

Statement

Actions you can take

My friends or family don’t want to be a passenger in my car when I’m driving. I feel upset and confused in traffic or lose my way quite often, even in familiar areas. My car has quite a few dings and dents from minor collisions when driving or parking. I’ve had several traffic infringements and warnings from police in the last two years. I’ve recently had a number of near misses while driving. I’ve gone through a stop sign without stopping several times.

If you experience any of these issues, we recommend you talk with your doctor about your concerns. They can help with investigating the causes and assist in managing your driving. Friends or family may be nervous to raise their concerns with you. By inviting them to have a conversation, you make it easier for them to express their concerns. You can seek a formal driving assessment with an occupational therapist with training in this area. Refer to the retiring from driving fact sheet for more information.

Reducing risk

None of us want to be a risk on the roads - to ourselves or to others. Most drivers make adjustments themselves when they realise their driving ability is deteriorating.

The first step to reducing risk is to be aware of how you're driving.

The second step is to actively manage your health by regularly consulting with your doctor and eye health professionals.

Seek feedback

Ask friends or family who have observed your driving if they've noticed any changes or anything of concern (they might be glad you raised the topic). 

You can also get independent objective feedback by booking a session with a driving instructor who is trained to assess older driver skills.

Talk to your doctor about your fitness to drive

It’s important to ask your doctor for advice about the effect that any illness, disability or medical condition may have on your ability to drive safely. This includes the effects of any medicines you may be taking.

All Victorian licence holders have a legal responsibility to report serious, permanent or long-term illnesses, disability, medical conditions or injuries to Medical Review. 

Being diagnosed with a health condition doesn’t necessarily mean you must stop driving. In most cases, managing long term serious conditions with the appropriate medical support means you can continue to drive and maintain your mobility for longer. 

You may have conditions put on your licence – such as a requirement for vehicle modifications, limits on distance travelled or use of local roads, or only driving in daylight or off-peak hours.

Conversely, you may be required to undergo regular medical or eyesight reviews.

Monitor your health

Health problems can affect our fitness to drive at any age. Some of these health conditions require notification to the Medical Review team.

Many health problems occur gradually, and can be difficult to notice – for example, eye sight changes occur gradually, and can affect our overall wellbeing and our ability to drive safely.

Regular check-ups with your doctor and eye health professional will help to identify and manage issues. You may discover there are treatments and devices which will support you to continue driving safely.

Change behaviour

Many drivers adjust the way they drive in response to changes in abilities or confidence.

Some drivers who find night driving difficult only drive during daylight hours. Others restrict their driving to local areas or reduce the amount of time they spend behind the wheel.

Some people decide to stop driving entirely, before they're legally required to do so. Our retiring from driving fact sheet has more information.

Change or adjust your car

If your car is old, a newer one may make it easier for you to drive with confidence. More recent models include features to increase your safety.

In some circumstances, modifications or adjustments can be made to your existing vehicle. These include additional mirrors, adjustable seating, parking sensors and cameras, hand controls instead of foot pedals, and steering aids to make the steering wheel easier to turn with one arm.

Some of these modifications can only be used by people with a health condition and require the successful completion of an occupational therapy driver assessment.

There's more information about this in our your car and your safety fact sheet.

About the medical review process

Once you have notified Medical Review of your medical condition or disability, we'll undertake a fitness to drive assessment. In this process, we'll review the medical report from your doctor or other health professionals.

If you don’t have a medical report, we may request you ask your doctor to complete one.  Please be aware we don't cover any costs associated with the medical reports or health appointments.

Medical Review assesses each medical report on a case-by-case basis.

If you have a medical condition that could have an impact on your driving, we may ask you to do a driver assessment with an occupational therapy driver assessor (we'll write to you). You're responsible for the cost associated with this assessment.

The request for an assessment may have been recommended by your medical practitioner, Victoria Police or by someone else who's concerned about your ability to drive safely.

If your medical review assessment shows you can drive safely, you'll keep your driver licence/learner permit.

However, depending on the assessment results, you may have specific conditions placed on your driving.

We'll only suspend or cancel your driver licence/learner permit if you:

• are assessed as medically unfit to drive
• fail a driving assessment
• don't provide a medical report upon request
• refuse or fail to undergo a test.

Conditions on your licence

To help maintain your mobility, we may offer you a conditional licence. This can mean the difference between giving up your licence completely, or continuing to drive in circumstances you find comfortable.

Examples of licence conditions include:

• only driving in daylight or off-peak hours
• driving within a set radius from home to enable you to drive to places you normally visit in your local area – such as shops, medical centre etc.
• driving a vehicle with modifications.

Keep your address up to date

After notifying us about your medical condition or disability, it’s important to keep your address up to date as it's likely we'll send you letters about your review.

If you move, you must update your address within 14 days – you can do this online at the VicRoads website, by calling  13 11 71, or at a VicRoads customer service centre.

Resources

Seniors Information Victoria
Search for COTA.
This independent service is operated by COTA Victoria and offers free information on a wide range of issues of interest to older Victorians.

Disable Motorists Australia
Email: [email protected]
Call: (03) 9386 0413
This group aims to support drivers with disabilities to obtain transportation and motoring independence. They offer member discounts, information, referrals and support on all transport and mobility issues.

Download a PDF of this page: ageing and safe driving (PDF)

Contact Medical Review

Email: [email protected]
Call: (03) 8391 3226
Mail: Medical Review,
GPO Box 2392,
Melbourne Victoria 3001

Please allow up to two weeks for correspondence to be received by post.