“That was close” - seniors as a traffic obstacle

Luise Heine has been an editor at since 2012. The qualified biologist studied in Regensburg and Brisbane (Australia) and gained experience as a journalist in television, in the Ratgeber-Verlag and in a print magazine. In addition to her work at , she also writes for children, for example for the Stuttgarter Kinderzeitung, and has her own breakfast blog, “Kuchen zum Frühstück”.

More posts by Luise Heine All content is checked by medical journalists.

Safe driving - everyone wants that. But what if the increasing age puts more and more stones on the road? When you should start questioning your ability to drive and what tricks there are to maintain your own mobility for as long as possible, explains Sandra Demuth * from the German Road Safety Council.

Sandra Demuth

Sandra Demuth, Head of Division for Initiatives and Events of the German Road Safety Council. The council is currently carrying out the shoulder look campaign, which is aimed specifically at older road users.

Ms. Demuth, according to statistics, senior citizens are noticeably often involved in accidents - why?

Older people often experience a loss of performance, they see worse, they can no longer move as well or their ability to react decreases. Sometimes side effects or interactions of different drugs also play a role. In addition, confusing situations are more often perceived as stressful. These are all factors that increase the risk of accidents. A lack of driving experience, because you no longer drive to work every day, can also play a role.

When are you too old to drive?

Fortunately, there is no age limit for fitness to drive. This is very different from person to person because it is not about age per se, but about health. Everyone should check this for themselves regularly and ask themselves "How am I?"

But many are convinced: “I can still drive a car!” When should one become vigilant?

If you often catch yourself thinking like: “It's kind of too stressful for me”, or you notice that you don't like certain situations anymore. That means when you experience that the traffic is very strenuous in places or you feel unsafe. And also with “Oops, that was close” - these little moments of shock should be taken seriously.

Do restrictions in sensory perception play a role here?

Sure, some realize that they have gotten into dangerous situations because they can no longer hear or see properly. However, these small restrictions often creep in without you really noticing. That is why it is all the more important to take small events seriously and, for example, to have them checked by the doctor.

Often it is the relatives who bring up the topic for the first time.

Yes, you shouldn't just iron out such worries, but take those close to you seriously.Nobody likes to be criticized - but it is better to go to the doctor once too much and make sure that everything is okay with your eyes, for example.

Is there anything seniors can do to maintain their driving fitness?

Naturally! The first step is to admit that you have a problem. Then comes the check-up at the doctor - maybe a new pair of glasses will help. If health does not stand in the way of driving, there are further training courses, especially for older road users. For example driving safety training. Dealing with an "emergency" is practiced on closed grounds. What many do not know: Some driving schools also offer individual feedback drives. Specially trained driving instructors sit down in the car, give feedback and maybe even reveal little tips and tricks on what can be done better.

Are there any rules you should impose on yourself?

Seniors should of course adapt their mobility behavior to their own abilities. For example, many have problems with their eyes being sensitive to glare at night and are then unsafe. Therefore, of course, nobody has to give up their driving license. One solution is to simply stop driving in the dark. Or you decide not to drive long distances yourself - you could switch to the train, for example. Or you can take more breaks.

Can relatives help?

It is important that the personal environment also knows how old people can maintain their mobility. So they can take away a lot of fears. Particularly important: Do not grumble at the person concerned during an unhappy situation in traffic, but rather wait a quiet moment to gently raise your concerns. Often it is also necessary to talk about it repeatedly because the first time does not bear fruit. It says: Don't get discouraged! Often the topic has to sag a little before the person concerned is ready to change something in the situation.

Who should really give up the rag without ifs and buts?

If the doctor says you shouldn't drive anymore, then you really shouldn't drive anymore.

The interview was conducted by Luise Heine.

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