SAN FRANCISCO – A new study from AAA finds a shocking number of mature drivers are unaware of the dangers of driving while under the influence of medication, and the problem gets worse with age.

 

The study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety surveyed drivers 56 and older. The study finds 78 percent of those with a medical condition use one or more medications. However, only 28 percent were aware those medications could potential impact their driving performance.

 

The study further showed that only 18 percent received a warning from a healthcare professional about the medications possibly impairing their driving. Additionally, the study found that even if a person has multiple medications or health conditions, this doesn’t increase their chances of being warned by a healthcare professional.

Commonly used medications that can impair driving behavior include ACE inhibitors, beta blockers and sedatives. Previous research shows using just one potentially impairing medication can increase a driver’s risk of being in a crash.

 

The survey used data from those aged 56 to 93. It shows the awareness of medications that could impair driving decreased with age, while the number of prescription medications people were taking increased with age. Of those surveyed, 69 percent use one or more medications that could impair their driving, and 10 percent use five or more medications that could impair their driving.

 

“Health care professionals need to educate patients about medications that could potentially impair driving to help them make safe driving decisions,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Matt Skryja. “One of our goals is to help older drivers stay mobile as long as safely possible. So, it is imperative that we do a better job of educating drivers on known risks, such as the side‐effects of medications.

 

By 2030, the number of drivers 55 years of age and older is expected to increase by more than half. That means the issue of medications impacting driving will only grow unless measures are taken to increase awareness. Potentially high‐risk groups include those with multiple medical conditions, those taking multiple medications, and those with less education about the overall risks.

 

“Seniors and their families need to be aware of health and wellness issues which can affect their ability to drive safely,” said Skryja. “By using the tools and resources available at www.aaa.com/seniordrivers , families can identify and address these issues to help maintain safe mobility throughout their lives.”

 

AAA Northern California offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance, DMV, financial services and consumer discounts to nearly 4 million members. AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers since it was founded more than 100 years ago.