Healthy Driving

Knowledge and Skills

Road rules and updating knowledge

Road rules change throughout time and it is a good idea to keep yourself up to date with any changes, to make sure that you are following the current rules. Particularly when travelling interstate it is an excellent idea to check up on the local rules, as they may be different to the road rules in your state.

For more information regarding road rules contact your state road and licensing authority, which are listed at the end of this module.

Tricky driving situations

Acknowledgment: This information is from WA Older Road Users Guidebook.

Driving when tired - Driving is a complex mental and physical task that requires sustained levels of concentration and skill to maintain maximum performance. Falling asleep at the wheel is obviously extremely dangerous.

Tiredness is a major killer on our roads

A far more common problem for drivers is drowsiness, leading to lack of concentration and poor reaction time. Once driver fatigue has begun to set in, there is little you can do to overcome it. Remedies such as loud music or winding down the window for a blast of cold air have shown to provide no lasting relief. The only effective long-term solution is sleep. 'STOP, REVIVE, SURVIVE'.

Night driving - Driving during the hours of darkness presents specific problems for the older motorist. As we age, our 'contrast sensitivity' reduces, so that seeing things clearly at night becomes much harder. At age 60 an average person will need about three times as much light to see an object as he/she did at age 20.

If you need to drive at night there are a few points worth remembering:

• Allow your eyes a couple of minutes to adjust to the dark
• Slow down so that you are driving well within the range of your headlights
• Increase your normal following distance behind other vehicles
• Make sure the windscreen, windows and mirrors are clear and clean
• Do not overtake unless absolutely necessary and completely safe to do so
• Dip your headlights to low beam within 200m of an approaching vehicle or 200m behind a vehicle
• If tired, stop and rest.

Sunrise and sunset - Driving can also become difficult when the sun is close to the horizon and the intense glare at such a low angle becomes almost blinding. The following tips may help:

• If possible avoid driving on a road facing directly into the rising or setting sun. By slightly changing your route it may be possible to avoid driving on roads facing either directly east or west
• Ensure your windscreen is clear and clean
• Carry a good set of sunglasses in your car and wear them
• Slow down if the glare begins to become a problem
• When driving away from a rising or setting sun be aware of other drivers coming towards you who may be blinded
• If you cannot see at all because of the glare, pull over until the sun has moved.

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Self assessment

You are the best person to determine if any health problem or course of treatment is having an effect on your ability to drive. Asking yourself a few honest questions may indicate if you are at risk. Tick your answer to the questions below:

1. Do I have trouble seeing other vehicles, especially at night?
   
   Yes     No

2. Do I have difficulty working the pedals and controls of my vehicle?
   
   Yes     No

3. Do I sometimes miss STOP signs and other traffic signals?
   
   Yes      No

4. Do intersections bother me because there is so much to watch from all directions?
   
   Yes      No

5. Do I get lost or disorientated easily, even in familiar places?
   
   Yes      No

6. Have I been involved in a crash or several near misses over the past year?
   
   Yes      No

Source: WA Older Road Users Guide - Courtesy of WA Office of Road Safety.

If the answer to any of these questions is 'Yes' you may consider modifying your driving and seeking advice from your doctor.

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Options

Some people feel that not being able to drive is a life sentence, restricting their movement and independence. Some conditions may require that you are only temporarily off the road while you recover or while the effect of medications wears off.

Most state licensing authorities offer conditional or restricted licenses, which have conditions or restrictions regarding driving times or distances, allowing you to stay mobile as you age, but making sure you are not endangering yourself or others by driving in conditions in which you no longer feel comfortable.

An example of some conditions:

• Daylight driving only
• Only drive an automatic vehicle
• Restricted to driving within a certain distance of residence
• Not to drive on 100km/h roads etc.

Licensing conditions and restrictions are available to help keep you on the road longer.

If necessary, discuss with your GP what conditions and restrictions might be relevant to keeping you on the road longer. You can also talk to your licensing authority about what options are available in your state or territory.

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