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When to stop driving



knowing when to stop driving is something that you will either decide for yourself, or in the case of a medical condition, you will be advised by your doctor.

In some cases (particularly with old age) it may be necessary to point out to a friend or relative that they should consider using public or other forms of transport to get around, or at the very least, advise them to speak to their doctor about your concerns.


Age and driving ability

Just because a person is old does not mean that they should stop driving. However our faculties will deteriorate gradually as we age and eventually they may start to affect your ability to drive safely.
Things such as impaired vision, hearing, muscle strength and attention span can all cause potential issues which may affect your ability to notice hazards and react quickly to them.

The problem with old age is that because our faculties usually get worse over a long period of time, it is not always obvious that there may be a problem to the individual concerned. This means that it is often necessary for a relative or friend to suggest that they should consider giving up driving, or perhaps seek further advice from their GP.


Medications

Whenever you are prescribed medication your GP should advise you if there are likely to be any side effects that may affect your ability to drive. Some medicines can make you feel drowsy and affect your ability to concentrate, obviously in this situation you should always avoid driving yourself and either get a lift from someone else or use some other form of transport.

Tiredness is a major cause of road accidents and taking certain medicines when you are already tired can make things worse. Particularly when buying 'over the counter' remedies you should always check the information with the medication to make sure that it does not have side effects that could affect your driving ability.


Medical conditions

Certain medical conditions can affect your ability to drive safely. For example diabetes can cause dizziness if the persons blood sugar level drops suddenly. Even a severe bout of flu can affect your ability to concentrate and make quick decisions.

With any medical condition it is always wise to consult your GP regarding your particular situation and they should be able to advise you as to whether it is safe for you to continue driving. It may just be the case that you have to stop driving while you are being treated, and you can return to driving once the condition is gone.


Pregnancy

There is no particular reason why a healthy pregnant woman should not continue to drive throughout her pregnancy.

Generally it's down to personal preference, but in the later stages of pregnancy it may become uncomfortable to sit behind the steering wheel of a car or wear a seat belt and so it may be preferable to avoid driving at this time.

Just give us a call on 0845 6768898 or start your claim enquiry using our online claim form.

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