At what age should you stop driving?

When to stop driving

Italians continue to drive cars until old age. We have approximately 65 people over ninety are behind the wheel and 3 million drivers who are well over 70. This is all normal, as there is no age limit for driving. The fatal accident rate involving drivers over 75 is five times higher than the average.

The trend is growing, given the progressive aging of the population, and the number of older drivers is expected to increase. Many of these are still able to drive, but many others have slow reflexes or attention deficits that compromise safe driving. Age status aside, therefore, Stopping driving is first and foremost a matter of recognizing the seasons of life and being reasonable.. And a sense of safety.

Car accidents can happen to anyone, but in the case of the elderly, they can be signs that should not be underestimated.latest OECD report It has emerged that most retirees have a standard of living no different from that of active workers, including car travel. Despite our concerns, the 70 year olds They make a quarter of the driving mistakes of twenty-year-olds, a reassuring fact that emerged from research conducted by Swansea University. They drink less, drive slower and use seat belts.

Not only that. Compared to younger drivers, older drivers maintain a safe distance and prefer less crowded hours. Furthermore, since they aren't "digital natives," they don't have the uncontrollable urge to look at their cell phone screens.

The risks, however, are those already mentioned. A study by the Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics identified critical issues in the cognitive functions and functional status of drivers over 75, investigating their attention span, reflexes, and degree of autonomy in daily activities. Doctors also measured the presence of visual and hearing impairments and cognitive impairments. sonno, detecting it in half of the tested subjects.

The only way that allows us to reduce the risks of potentially very dangerous accidents, according to geriatricians, is prevention: not only cars equipped with modern safety devices, but also and above all strengthen the controls and the rigor with which the renewal visits for the driving licence are carried outFrom a legislative standpoint, the age of motorists is increasing and the Highway Code is also adapting.

According to the New Highway Code, drivers over eighty must undergo an annual medical check-up to renew and maintain their driving license. Alternatively, they can decide to convert their license to a AM license for driving three-wheeled mopeds or light quadricycles, read minicar, maintaining the previous obligation of a medical examination every two years to ascertain the psycho-physical requirements.

The analyses must be carried out at authorised health centres, as provided for by the article 119 of the Highway Code, that is, medical officers from the general medicine sections of the local health authorities, medical inspectors from the State Railways, or military doctors.

Putting your driver's license away is a difficult step for many seniors. However, there are several reasons to do so once you reach a certain age. The safety of the driver and that of others is a more than valid reason to give up driving as one gets older.Here are some reasons to help us understand when it's time to stop driving.

• Taking medicationsMany elderly people take medications that, among the side effects, include drowsiness or dizziness. Two potential risk factors for those on board and others, which every senior should be aware of. Furthermore, some drug combinations can limit the ability to drive. Therefore, if taking new medications, it's always best to wait a few days before driving to assess any possible side effects.
• Vision and hearing problems. As we age, it's quite common for our eyesight and hearing to deteriorate or be affected by conditions that limit their functionality. Therefore, every senior should undergo periodic check-ups with a specialist to better understand their abilities and limitations.
• Decreased reflexesAging brings with it a reduction in mobility. This can also be affected by certain pathologies, but generally speaking, reduced reflex response and limited mobility are common to many older adults. This condition, over time, becomes incompatible with driving.

At the opposite end of the spectrum from older drivers are young people who suffer from "fear of driving," an anxiety disorder that can cause tachycardia, hyperventilation, profuse sweating, and a feeling of losing control of the situation they find themselves in. Like all anxiety disorders,anxiety, even “fear of driving” can be addressed with the use of psychotherapy and, only if and when the doctor prescribes it, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs.

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