Older drivers – health, assessment and safe driving

Older drivers are often among the safest people on the road, thanks to long experience, calm driving and good attitudes. At the same time, the body changes over the years: vision gradually weakens, reaction time grows a little longer and mobility decreases. This article explains how age affects driving ability, which health requirements apply to keep your licence, and what both drivers and relatives can do to keep driving safely for longer.

Table of contents

• How age affects driving ability
• Health requirements and medical certificate for older drivers
• Experience as a strength
• Adapted and safe driving
• When should you consider giving up driving?

How age affects driving ability

Ageing is a natural process, and the changes happen gradually. Most older people compensate well without being aware of it – for example by driving a little slower and keeping a larger distance. Even so, it helps to know which functions weaken the most.

Changes in vision are often the most noticeable. Night vision weakens, and you are more easily dazzled by oncoming lights. This is one reason many older people choose to drive less in the dark. You can read more in the article on vision in traffic , and about why longer reaction time and braking distance leads to a longer stopping distance.

Health requirements and medical certificate for older drivers

To hold a driving licence you must meet certain health requirements. These concern, among other things, vision, hearing, mobility and the absence of conditions that make driving unsafe. The requirements apply throughout life, but become especially relevant with age.

In the past, all older people had to submit a medical certificate from a fixed age. The rules were later changed so that the individual’s actual health – not age alone – determines whether a medical certificate is required. Your doctor assesses this based on the vision requirements and general health. The main points are:

1. You must judge for yourself whether you are fit to drive every time you get behind the wheel.
2. The doctor may require a medical examination if there is reason to believe the health requirements are not met.
3. A medical examination typically checks vision, cognition and mobility.
4. If the requirements are not met, the licence may be limited in time or revoked.

For details on what is actually measured, see the article on health and vision requirements . An important principle is that road safety rests on no one being seriously injured, as explained in the article on the Vision Zero approach .

Experience as a strength

It is important to stress that age in itself does not make you a poor driver. Older drivers often have lower risk per trip than the youngest because they:

• drive more calmly and predictably
• keep a good following distance
• avoid risky situations such as high speed and last-second overtaking
• have long practice in reading the traffic picture

Experience and good attitudes therefore make up for a lot. A good following distance gives extra time to react, and many older drivers are safer precisely because of a calm and predictable driving pattern.

Adapted and safe driving

Much can be done to keep driving safely for longer. The adaptations are about working with your own health rather than pushing yourself:

• Check your vision regularly at an optician, and use the right glasses.
• Drive in daylight and avoid rush hour if darkness and queues are demanding.
• Keep extra distance, so you have more time to react.
• Plan your route and choose familiar roads when possible.
• Be especially careful with medicines that can affect driving.

Many older people take several prescription drugs, and some can cause drowsiness or reduced reactions. Read more in the article on medicines and driving ability . Be aware too that fatigue and microsleep can affect anyone, regardless of age.

When should you consider giving up driving?

The hardest conversation is often about when it is time to stop. There is no fixed age limit – what matters is whether you are still fit to drive. Warning signs that should be taken seriously include repeated near misses, getting lost on familiar routes, becoming easily confused at junctions, or receiving feedback from relatives.

An open and respectful conversation within the family, perhaps together with your doctor, is often the best path. There is more on this assessment in the article on fitness to drive and on the interaction described in the human in traffic .

Want to refresh the theory or help someone preparing for the test? Take a free theory test and keep practising in the Eteo app to be confident and well prepared for the theory exam.