Safe driving tips for senior drivers

Get your eyesight checked regularly and wear sunglasses to help reduce sun glare. Image: Getty

Driving tips to keep you and others safe on the road

Get your eyesight checked regularly

As we age, our eyesight can deteriorate, making it more difficult to read road signs, spot hazards, identify traffic signals and judge distances. Having regular eye checkups is vital to ensure you have good vision for safe driving. The National Health Survey 2022 found 28.1 per cent of Australians were short sighted and 30 per cent were long sighted.

Headlight glare at night is sometimes one of the first signs of eyesight problems. If you have difficulty focusing on dark roads or find the glare from oncoming headlights and traffic lights debilitating, then get your eyesight checked.

If you need glasses for driving, make sure you always have them on you before buckling your seatbelt. Keeping a spare pair with the correct prescription in your car is a great way to ensure you stay safe on the roads.

RACV Members can save on optical and eyewear

Limit your night driving

While most road users are comfortable driving during the day, nighttime driving can pose challenges as we age. If you have lost confidence in your ability to drive at night, consider giving up dawn, dusk and nighttime driving.

This may help with your confidence and reduce feelings of anxiety while driving.

Avoid driving if you're feeling tired

Fatigue can affect your ability to stay alert, slow your reaction time and thwart your decision making, all of which are incredibly important when driving, regardless of the time of day or distance driven.

While not always easy, aiming to be alert, refreshed and focused before getting behind the wheel can aid in a safer and more intentional drive, not to mention reduce the chance of missing your turn enroute.

Limit your night driving if you have concerns about visibility or tiredness. Image: Matt Harvey

Keep your vehicle in good condition

Regular maintenance is important to ensure your vehicle runs smoothly and any potential hazards, such as worn tyres, faulty headlights or brake issues, are identified and fixed. Put a reminder in your phone or diary to alert you when your next service is due.

Buy the safest car you can afford

Ensuring that you're driving the safest car for your budget will go a long way to providing safety and reassurance while on the road.

You may be happy with the car you’ve had for many years, but it’s important to consider whether it meets current safety standards, which have dramatically improved in recent years with crash prevention features, such as alerts when you drive too close to the centre of the road.

If you feel it’s time for a car upgrade, take a look at RACV’s article on the safest cars and consider whether it’s time to downsize. The Australasian New Car Assessment Program, or ANCAP Safety is also a helpful tool to compare individual vehicle safety.

In regards to what to consider on a test drive, evaluate the cabin and look for a vehicle that is going to be easy for you to operate.

Keep abreast of any changes to road rules

Road rules can change over time, which can be confusing to motorists, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest rules when travelling on our roads.

The easiest way to ensure you’re up to date is by visiting VicRoad’s online education platform, which takes users through the most up-to-date and key Victorian road rules. Motorists can brush up on their knowledge to ensure they're staying safe on our roads.

If you're buying a newer vehicle, make sure you feel confident about using the technology and main controls. Image: Matt Harvey

Avoid distractions

Distracted driving is a leading cause of car accidents for all drivers, and it can be especially dangerous for older drivers. In Victoria, new road rules introduced in 2023 clarified a number of rules regulating the use of portable, mountable, wearable and inbuilt devices while driving a vehicle. By following the mobile device road rules, you can significantly reduce distractions and ensure that your full attention is on the task of driving.

Plan your route in advance

Planning your route in advance can help you avoid getting lost or making wrong turns, which can be stressful and dangerous. Before setting off in your car, set up your navigation system, so once you’re driving you can concentrate on the road. If you need to look at your mobile device or a printed map, pull over and stop in a safe place until you have worked out where you're going. Use a GPS or map to help navigate unfamiliar areas.

Be aware of your limitations

As we age, our reaction times and cognitive abilities may decline. Be aware of your limitations and adjust your driving habits accordingly. Give yourself extra time.

If you or your family have concerns about your driving ability, it can help to discuss possible solutions together. Image: Getty

Adapting to physical and mental changes

Your ability to drive and retain your licence is determined by your behaviour and medical fitness. You should routinely assess your fitness to drive. There are a range of health professionals who can help you.

• If you have any concerns about how a medical condition could affect your driving, talk to a doctor.
• If you have reduced mobility, a registered occupational therapist trained in driver assessment can advise you on vehicle modifications and adjustments.
• If you're taking medications, talk to a doctor or pharmacist about how they could affect your alertness and coordination.
• If you're concerned about your hearing, see an audiologist for a hearing check. Medicare rebates for audiology services are now available with a GP referral, which helps lessen the cost of the appointment. 
• Don’t forget your eyesight: Optometrists generally recommend that you have an eye test every two years.

Consider using public transport if you have concerns about your driving ability. Image: Matt Harvey

How to talk to an older family member about driving

If you've noticed changes in a family member’s driving ability, you may also be concerned about how best to broach the topic with them. It’s important to recognise that older family members may be hesitant to talk about their physical limitations or may feel defensive if their driving ability is being questioned. It can also be useful to talk to other family members and get their views and come up with solutions together. Here are some tips to help the conversation go smoothly.

• Approach the subject with empathy.
• Start with small and simple suggestions, such as giving up driving at night or during peak traffic.
• Choose the right time and place, preferably a private and in a relaxed environment.
  
• Be open minded, listen to their views and try to see things from their perspective.
• Don’t push the conversation if they're resistant.
• Focus on solutions and compromise, and don’t apply pressure. Suggest other forms of transport.
• Discuss whether guidance should be sought from a health care professional, if necessary.

Preparing for life after driving

When you do decide that it’s time to stop driving, or an impairment results in you giving up driving, here are some tips that may help in the transition away from driving.

• Begin the conversation with family and friends around support with transportation to get you where you need to go.
• Become familiar with public transport options. You may also be eligible for reduced taxi fares.
• Maintain a sense of social connection and community by planning regular outings, activities and catch-ups. Organising these on set days can also help with familiarity of transport options.

^{The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.}