Print this page and take the quiz.

Check each statement that applies to you:

_____I get lost while driving.

_____My friends and family members say they are worried about my driving.

_____Other cars seem to appear out of nowhere.

_____I have trouble seeing signs in time to respond to them.

_____Other drivers drive too fast. 

            [Editor’s Note: Don’t check this if you are driving the speed limit and cars pass you doing 90!]

_____Other drivers often honk at me.

_____Driving stresses me out.

_____After driving, I feel very tired.

_____I have had more “near misses” lately.

_____Busy intersections bother me.

_____Left-hand turns make me nervous.

_____The glare from oncoming headlights bothers me.

_____My medication makes me dizzy or drowsy.

_____I have trouble turning the steering wheel.

_____I have trouble pushing down on the gas pedal or brakes.

_____I have trouble looking over my shoulder when I back up.

_____I have been stopped by the police for my driving recently.

_____People will no longer accept rides from me.

_____I don’t like to drive at night.

_____I have more trouble parking lately.

             This quiz is from the “Physician’s Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers”, which has just been published by the American Medical Association and is designed for self-administration by older drivers.  People who take the quiz are advised, “If you checked any of the boxes, your safety may be at risk when you drive.  Talk to your doctor about ways to improve your safety.” 

            While almost any cautious and defensive driver could answer “yes” to some of the questions, other issues that are raised by some “yes” answers suggest very real and significant danger to the driver taking the quiz, passengers and other people using the same roadway.

            Because we rely so completely on our vehicles as our primary form of transportation, we may persist in denial of difficulties we might be experiencing.  Besides talking with the doctor about how to improve safety on the road, it would also be a great idea to begin exploring the other transportation services that are available in our communities.  Learning how to use public transportation services, before changing circumstances force retirement from driving and before personal transportation becomes a huge problem, is just good prior planning.