Aging drivers often fear they will eventually need to give up driving and the independence it allows. Their children worry that there is no other choice: that their parent’s slowing reflexes or failing eyesight is putting them and other at risk on the road.
In some cases, at least, there may be a solution that puts those fears to rest: driving rehabilitation specialists riding with older drivers to observe how well they drive and recommend ways they can stay safe behind the wheel, perhaps with the help of certain exercises, or by limiting driving to daylight hours or to local roads. These specialists, along with advances in automotive technology and online screening assessments, are helping older drivers stay on the road, according to the New York Times. (The specialists also work with drivers with disabilities.)
Additional information on driving rehabilitation specialists can be found at the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists and the American Occupational Therapy Association.
