| The American population is on a whole staying | | | | can be affected or diminished not allowing us to use |
| healthy and therefore living much longer. There is no | | | | the sense to hear what is going on around us. And |
| question that the number of drivers that are above | | | | the biggest impact of all could be prescription |
| 55 is on the rise. We find that more and more senior | | | | medication, how are body responds to it as well as |
| citizens are traveling on a regular basis and most by | | | | what happens when we forget to take our |
| car. The fact is because the senior citizen population | | | | prescriptions. All of these things mentioned can |
| is driving more, there is a rising rate of car crashes | | | | impact our ability to drive and the possibility of it |
| that involve this population. Senior citizens have one | | | | causing an accident. |
| of the highest death rate per mile driven, 2nd only to | | | | The decision to give up driving is very tough for |
| teens who have the highest death rate. | | | | people to make. Driving is viewed as the last |
| Most people do not consider the amount of strength | | | | greatest measure of independence for a person. It |
| that it takes to drive and control a motor vehicle on | | | | makes it much more difficult to do the things that |
| the road. Nor do they consider the implications of the | | | | you were doing before. Many seniors do not want to |
| multitudes of medications that they may be taking. If | | | | give up their driver�s license because it makes it |
| they miss one, what will happen? If they take too | | | | difficult to go to appointments, get to the grocery |
| much, will this cause a problem too? | | | | store and social with friends. |
| It is important to realize that as we age many things | | | | Seniors should really take time to consider if they are |
| in our body become affected by the process. Our | | | | able to continue to drive before getting in behind the |
| reflexes begin to slow down which could cause our | | | | wheel. If you have had several minor accidents, tend |
| reaction times to slow down dramatically. Our vision | | | | to get lost easily, or have family members that are |
| become impaired and our depth perception could | | | | worried about your driving ability, you should really |
| become an issue as well. The ability to make quick | | | | consider giving up your keys. If the family is really |
| decisions and handle the multiple tasks of driving to | | | | worried, they will help out on transportation. There |
| avoid accidents and emergency situations becomes | | | | are also many public transportation programs |
| diminished. The body begins to lose muscle strength | | | | throughout the US that allows seniors to ride at |
| and tone as well as decreased bone mass. Hearing | | | | discounted rates. |