“On the whole, older drivers are safe,” says Dr. Marian Betz, an expert in healthy aging at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus. “They tend to drive slower than younger drivers and have a lot of experience. But some health conditions common with aging may make it riskier to get behind the wheel. Stiffer joints and weaker muscles can make it harder to steer or brake safely. Eye diseases and some medications can cause vision problems. Hearing loss can blunt the sounds of horns or sirens. And cognitive changes, even mild ones, may impair quick decisions behind the wheel.
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