Health and Driving
Understand the effects of health decline on driving and how to manage this.
Health & Driving
This page helps you understand how your health can affect your driving.
- Vision: Learn about common vision problems, warning signs, and tips to manage your eyesight to drive safely.
- Thinking and Memory: Discover how thinking and memory changes might impact driving and what to watch for.
- Medical Conditions: Find out which medical conditions could affect your driving and how to manage them.
- Medications: Understand how different medications might influence your ability to drive safely.
- Physical Abilities: See how physical changes can impact driving and ways to stay active and safe.
Each section gives you clear and simple advice to help you stay safe on the road while taking care of your health.
Discover more by clicking on the boxes below:
How Does Vision Affect Driving?
Vision is crucial for driving safely at any age. However, as we get older, it’s normal for our vision to change and sometimes get worse.
Here are some common signs that your vision might be affecting your driving safety:
Struggling to see road markings, vehicles, pedestrians, road signs, and hazards.
Difficulty detecting moving objects and judging the distance of approaching cars.
Trouble seeing objects in your peripheral (side) vision.
Having trouble seeing clearly at night due to darkness or glare from headlights or streetlights.
These signs can be caused by common eye conditions that often affect us as we age, such as myopia, astigmatism, cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration.
Visit ‘Good vision for life’ to learn more about each eye condition.
How can I manage my Vision to Ensure Safe Driving?
See an Optometrist
See an optometrist to check your vision [Find one in your local area here].
If you are over the age of 65, you can receive one bulk billed eye test per year.
Pay Attention While Driving
Scan the environment properly when driving to ensure you do not miss any hazards. Scanning involves moving your head, shoulders, and eyes to check blind spots.
[Check this advice on scanning routines that is relevant for all ages].
Wear Corrective Lenses
Wear the corrective lenses prescribed to you for driving.
Adjust Your Driving
Adjust your driving based on your current vision. This might mean avoiding driving at night, in bad weather, or during busy times of the day.
How Memory and Reaction Speed Affect Driving
Cognitive skills gradually decline as we age, and it’s important to know how to adjust your driving habits to compensate for these changes and to recognise when they begin to affect safety.
Identifying these changes is crucial for driving safely at any age. More information on conditions that commonly affect driving can be found here:
Attention – Helps you notice potential hazards and ignore irrelevant information, like phone notifications and passenger conversations.
Working Memory – Helps you remember and work with information for brief periods. For example, remembering where hazards are and details like speed limits and traffic signs as you drive. You use your working memory to plan and make decisions when driving.
Processing Speed – Helps you see and react quickly to potential hazards. It’s essential for preventing crashes.
How can I tell if my Cognition is Affecting my Driving?
Evaluate Your Cognitive Health
Assess your risk of cognitive decline here, along with tips on maintaining good brain health.
Self-Assess Your Driving Skills
Evaluate your driving knowledge with helpful resources like – page 7 of the ACT Older Drivers’ Handbook and the University of Wollongong’s older driver decision aid.
Take a Driving Test
Take a driving test with a qualified specialist assessor. They can help you identify your driving weaknesses and improve your skills to better compensate for changes in cognition.
[Find a specialist driving assessor in your area here].
How Medical Conditions Affect Driving
The Australian National Standards for driving 2022 edition detail several major medical conditions can that impact driving.
Here are a few that your doctor may check for during an annual medical review of your fitness to drive:
Blackouts – where you lose consciousness while driving and lose control of the vehicle, can be caused by sleep disorders, epilepsy, or heart conditions.
Hearing problems – can make it harder to hear emergency sirens, car horns, and warning systems.
Heart conditions – can increase your risk of having a heart attack or sudden chest pain while driving. They can also affect your vision or arm function while driving.
Joint and muscle conditions – For example, arthritis, can make it difficult to steer, use foot pedals, or turn your neck and head to check blind spots.
Diabetes – If not managed well, can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar levels, leading to unconsciousness or seizures. It can also impair your vision and the nerves in your feet, making it harder to press or feel the pedals.
How to Manage Your Medical Conditions For Safe Driving
Report Medical Conditions
In Australia, you must report any medical conditions that could affect your driving safety. Some states require annual fitness to drive check-ups with your GP after a certain age. Check our Licensing section for state-specific information.
Regular Check-ups
Attend regular check-ups with your GP to monitor your health and ensure your fitness to drive.
Driver Rehabilitation
Seek driver rehabilitation from a qualified occupational therapist. These health professionals can advise you on car adaptations to assist with your medical condition (e.g. additional mirrors, neck or back supports).
Treatment Plans
Ensure any medical conditions are well managed. Follow your treatment plan and medical schedule as directed by your doctors.
Your Medication Schedule
Do not drive if you feel unwell or unsafe. Some medication side effects can impact your driving safety. Make sure to discuss any concerns with your doctor. See the section on medication below for further information.
How Does Medication Affect Driving?
Some medications and supplements can impact driving. They might cause side effects such as:
- Feeling drowsy, dizzy, or faint
- Difficulty focusing or maintaining concentration
- Difficulty making decisions
- Blurred vision
- Slow reaction time
- Taking risks while driving
Whether a medication or supplement affects your driving safety depends on factors such as your age, sex, dosage, the time you took the medication or supplement, whether you’ve consumed alcohol, and other medications or supplements you may be taking at the same time.
Common medications known to affect driving safety include:
- Benzodiazepines
- Antidepressants
- Opioids
The Victorian Government’s Transport Accident Commission provides a table of medications that can impair driving. For more detailed information, you can refer to their resources.
Ensuring Safe Driving While Taking Medication
Beware of interactions
Be aware of interactions between your medication and any other substances you might be taking, such as alcohol, other prescribed medications, and over-the-counter medications. Interactions can make the medication less effective or worsen the side effects.
Consult Your Doctor
If you are uncertain about how your medication might affect your ability to drive, it is safest to continue taking it, but avoid driving until you have received personal advice from your doctor.
You may want to:
- Ask about its effects
- Follow dosage
- Explore alternatives
Take Extra Caution
Be extra careful when starting a new medication, as it may initially affect your alertness and driving ability more. Over time, these effects may lessen as your body builds tolerance.
Read Your Medication
Read the leaflets and the warning labels included in your medication packaging. You can also search for information about the medication on healthdirect or NPS MedicineWise.
How Does Physical Functioning Affect Driving?
Physical changes over time may include:
- Weaker muscles and reduced strength
- Decreased flexibility
- Reduced range of motion
- Stiff joints
- Slower and less efficient movement
Physical changes can make certain driving actions more difficult, such as:
- Getting in and out of the car
- Securing your seatbelt
- Using the accelerator and brake pedals
- Steering
- Turning your head to check blind spots when reversing or changing lanes
Weaker bones and physical frailty as we age increase our chances of being injured in a car crash and the severity of those injuries.
How to Manage Your Physical Abilities for Safe Driving?
Vehicle Modifications
Consider modifying your vehicle. For example, if you have difficulty turning your neck, your occupational therapist may suggest installing cameras or extra mirrors for your blind spots and teach you how to use them effectively.
Maintain Physical Activity
Staying active helps keep you strong, flexible, and steady on your feet. The Department of Health and Aged Care recommends that anyone over 65 should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each day.
For a guide on physical activity tailored for older Australians, click here.
Experiencing Pain?
If you have pain or discomfort while driving, schedule an appointment with your GP.
Occupational Therapy
Find an occupational therapist who specialises in driving assessment. They can check how your physical abilities affect your driving and provide suggestions for improvement.
Wear a Seatbelt
Always wear your seatbelt, both as a driver or a passenger. This greatly improves your safety and reduces physical harm in case of a crash.