Some medical conditions affect the ability to drive safely. As we age, some of these conditions become more common. For example:

• Arthritis, Parkinson’s Disease, and having had a stroke, can make it harder to handle a car safely
• Sleep problems like sleep apnea make you less alert and make it hard to focus your attention
• If you have an automatic defibrillator or pacemaker, your doctor might suggest that you stop driving
• Diabetes may cause nerve damage in your hands, legs, or eyes
• If you have Alzheimer’s Disease you will eventually have to stop driving

Medications

Older people take more prescription medicines than any other age group. They often have one or more long-term illnesses such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease and may be taking several different medications. As your body ages you may be more sensitive to the effects of medicine on your brain.  And a combination of medications can increase the overall effect on your body.

Several medications interfere with your ability to drive safely. For example, sleep aids, medicine to treat depression, antihistamines for allergies and colds, strong pain-killers, and diabetes medications. If you are taking one or more of these, talk to your doctor. Perhaps he or she can change your prescription, or help you decide if the medicine is affecting your driving.