Question

1. Based on what your experiences and CH 5 materials, why does driving become more difficult with advancing age?

   1. Create a bullet point list providing three examples, each from a different body system.  (Your answer should contain at least 3 well developed pieces of evidence, including the issue and how it specifically affects driving).

   2. What are ways we can compensate for or help to slow down the aging process to allow us to remain performing everyday activities, more specifically driving (provide at least 3)?

Answer 1

Driving has become one of the important task of every individual as a means of transportation from a friendly visit to emergency hospital visits.

Some of the most important reasons for difficulties in driving as one ages are

●Vision

• As an individual ages, the lens in the see eyes looses its flexibility, thickens and even pupils contracts.This leads to difficulty in focusing on things, more glareness due to the lens ageing ,poor vision due to thickening .The research says people above 55 years of age have some sort of vision problems .The color vision of them decreases leading to confusion of red light and yellow light.

This can be compensated by having a healthy diet rich in Vitamin A and its supplements and regular eye checkups, wear eye glasses as per power.

●Hearing

This is the last sense to be diminished ,but as an individual ages the finest hair follicles in the ear canal are shreddedd down leading to conduction problems and making it hard to hear gradually.They may have difficulty in hearing the horns unless it is the honking sound from an ambulance or large vehicles moving on the road. People above 65 experience some sort of difficulty in hearing there after.

This can be compensated effectively by proper ear screening and application of hearing aid if necessary

●Motor skills

The muscle looses its tone ,tugor, flexibility. As a result of this musculoskeletal problems occurs leading to movement disorders and difficulty to use the motor system to apply brake, clutch or turn in a road as per the signals and the direction.This can increase the risk of accidents.

This can be compensated by treating any underlying medical conditions before driving.