Why Senior Citizens May be at Risk for a DUI in Florida

As “Baby Boomers” are retiring and enjoying the perks that a lifetime of hard work and experience can bring, they are becoming more at risk for being pulled over. You may have been a safe driver your whole life. Maybe you’ve had an occasional speeding ticket, but you’ve never been arrested. No matter how cautiously you drive, there are several factors that may increase your chances of being charged with a DUI as you get older. As we age, our bodies undergo vast changes. And these changes can affect our driving.

How exactly does aging affect our driving ability? Below are some of the most common changes we undergo as we age that affect safe driving:

Increased Reaction Time – As we age, brain connections break down, slowing down our physical response times. Even if you are physically able to react, reaction time increases with age. The consumption of alcohol further deteriorates reaction time.

Vision & Hearing – Seeing and Hearing are two senses that take a hit during aging. Our ability to see and hear clearly diminishes as we get older. Without strong vision and hearing abilities, seniors can miss important cues on the road. Medical conditions like Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma can make things even worse. While vision is obviously crucial to safe driving, hearing can also be just as important. If you miss audible cues such as the screeching of tires, honking of horns or sirens of an emergency vehicle, you may fail to notice a hazardous situation until its too late.

Slower Mental Processes – Aside from the typical “senior moments” that age can cause, there are severe medical conditions that are more common in the elderly and can affect the brain’s ability to reason. For example, Alzheimer’s and Dementia can cause confusion or disorientation. If experiencing some effects from Dementia, you could be pulled over and your confusion could be misconstrued by law enforcement as impairment from alcohol or drugs.

Stiff Muscles & Joints – Conditions that affect joints and muscles, such as arthritis, are much more common in the elderly. These ailments can make it difficult to maneuver a vehicle and react quickly when necessary.

 The increased rate of health issues as we age results in the increased use of medication. Some of these medications warn against driving while taking them. Seniors who take multiple medications may experience the same effect as if they were driving under the influence. Many medications impair our ability to drive and can amplify the effects of alcohol.

Medications that commonly cause problems when mixed with alcohol are:

Blood Thinners

Antibiotics

Antidepressants

Anti-anxiety medication

Diabetes medication

Antihistamines