Vision

One of the most noticeable effects of aging is diminishing eyesight. We receive 85% to 90% of the information necessary to drive through our eyes, so good vision is essential for safe driving.

Some facts about aging and the eyes:

• The amount of light entering the eye decreases by one-half every 13 years. A 45-year-old requires four times as much light as a 19-year-old and a 60-year-old requires 10 times as much.
• The ability to change focus declines with age. Younger drivers need only about two seconds to adjust their focus from near to far, such as when looking from the speedometer to the road ahead. Drivers over 40 take three seconds or more, with more time needed as they age.
• Older drivers are more sensitive to glare. The eyes’ lenses grow thicker, pupils shrink, and muscles lose elasticity with age. Compared to a 16-year-old, a 55-year-old takes eight times longer to recover from glare.
• Colors become harder to see, especially red. Some older drivers take twice as long to detect the flash of brake lights as younger drivers.
• Peripheral vision narrows with age and depth perception, which affects the ability to judge how fast other cars are moving, declines.

But there are some simple steps that can be taken that can help minimize the effect aging eyes can have on driving:

• Get regular eye exams (at least every two years). Cataracts are common among senior drivers and can be corrected with surgery; the progress of many other eye problems can be slowed if they are detected in time.
• Limit your driving. If you have a problem with night vision or glare, limit your driving to daytime hours.
• Turn your head frequently. This action can help compensate for diminished peripheral vision.
• Keep headlights, mirrors, and windshields (including the glass inside the car) clean.
• Check your mirrors. A few simple steps can ensure that your “second set of eyes” is as efficient as possible. The AAA Foundation offers step by step instructions for adjusting your mirrors as well as a video that explains how to tell if your mirrors are properly adjusted.
• Add a larger rearview mirror to increase the range of visibility.
• Keep your eyes up. Look at the road ahead to see trouble before you reach it. In the city look at least one block ahead; on the highway look at the section you will reach in 20 to 30 seconds.

Hearing

In addition to deteriorating eyesight, mature drivers must also cope with decreased hearing ability. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. Roughly one-third of Americans 65 to 74 years of age and 47% of those 75 and older have hearing loss.

Hearing loss is especially dangerous when driving, as drivers can lose the ability to hear high-pitched tones, such as sirens, and sounds among background noise, such as horns and railroad warnings. If hearing loss is ignored or untreated, it can get worse. But hearing loss that is identified early can be helped through treatment, such as hearing aids, certain medicines, and surgery.