Older Adult Drivers: A Developing Public Health Concern

Driving is identified as one of the most independent activities in everyone's daily life. Individuals identify driving as a privilege and believe they will always be able to drive. Driving involves sufficient physical, cognitive and coordination abilities. Unfortunately, when physical, cognitive and/or coordination impairments occur as one ages, many older persons are not readily prepared in giving up their driving independence. The subject becomes troubling when older adults continue to drive with deficits and it develops into a public health safety concern. As the aging population continues to increase dramatically in the United States (US), the number of older persons driving will also increase. Due to the importance of this rising safety concern, nurses and allied health professionals in the various disciplines in which they are employed, have a professional role in advocating and intervening accordingly for the safety of older individuals who continue to utilize their driving independence to promote safety on the roads.