For most of us, our car is the second most complex machine we operate every day…the first is our body. Below are some basic health guidelines for safe driving:

• Exercise regularly. Physical fitness is essential to safe driving, especially for seniors. Exercise can be as simple as walking for at least 20 minutes five times a week. Gardening, golf, tennis, and other activities also are great ways to keep your body in top physical condition. The AAA Foundation provides simple exercises to help drivers stay limber.
• Get regular eye exams—at least every two years and more if your eyes are changing rapidly or you have a condition such as cataracts or glaucoma. We receive 85% to 90% of the information necessary to drive through our eyes, so good vision is essential for safe driving.
• The amount of medication we take may increase as we age. Keep the following in mind about medications and safe driving:
  • Read the fine print
  • Talk to your doctor(s) and pharmacist about all prescription and nonprescription medication you’re taking
  • Always check with your doctor before stopping any medication
  • Avoid driving when you first start taking a new medication
  • If medication makes you feel sleepy or disoriented, don’t drive
• Get plenty of sleep. Driving while drowsy is a leading cause of collisions and is just as dangerous as driving drunk. To prevent drowsiness:
  • Get plenty of sleep the night before a trip
  • Do not drive late at night when your body is used to being in bed
  • Avoid driving in the middle of the afternoon
  • Do not drive after being awake more than 15 hours (Click here to take the AAA Foundation's drowsy driving quiz.)
• If you begin to feel drowsy while driving:
  • Stop driving
  • Pull over and take a nap (even 15 or 20 minutes can restore your alertness)
  • Get out of the car and exercise
  • Keep in mind caffeine will result only in a short-term boost of energy.