Driving over 65: proceed with caution

The issue of driving in the elderly population will continue to be relevant for public discourse. Because the termination of driving may be seen as an end of independence, it is important to appreciate that it has both emotional and pragmatic consequence. Senescence includes a host of physiological changes that may influence one's driving ability. Yet, aging alone does not infer poor driving ability. Health care providers should encourage and support the development of accurate methods of evaluation for older drivers and discuss adaptive strategies with older drivers in an effort to maintain their independence while promoting public safety.