SHARES
Older folks driving on the streets is becoming more and more a common sight. Unsurprising, with the increase in the ageing population and among them, a higher proportion of well & active seniors in our midst.
While most of us who are in this category, can drive with ease during the day, night driving poses challenges for the elderly as the same street take on a different look at night. Other struggles include blinding oncoming headlights and difficulty in seeing lane markings or street signs. Some may also have problems judging distance and speed.
There are many reasons why older folks struggle with night driving, including:
- Shrunk pupils cannot dilate effectively, reducing the amount of light entering the eye.
- Ageing cornea and lens reduce in clarity, causing light to scatter inside the eye and reduce contrast sensitivity.
- High-order aberrations (that cannot be corrected by spectacles) increase with age and lead to glare.
- Higher prevalence of age-related eye conditions, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and cataract.
Tips to Make Night Driving Easier and Safer
Tip 1: Clean windows and mirrors regularly
Although a dirty windshield does not affect driving experience during daytime, it can lead to glare at night. Dirt and grime that build up on headlights can also reduce the brightness of the lights. Hence, check the headlights regularly to ensure that they are clean and in good shape.
Tip 2: Flip rearview mirror to night setting (note: some newer car models have automatic settings)
Using rearview mirror in night setting reduces glare from the cars behind, making headlights less distracting. Similarly, remember to clean the mirror as dirt and grease increase reflections and glares.
Tip 3: Avoid looking at oncoming lights
Instead, look straight ahead. Staring directly at bright lights can temporarily affect visibility at night. Old age also makes it difficult to adjust from bright light to dim light.
Tip 4: Forget about the yellow-tinted glasses
These tinted glasses were marketed as night-vision glasses that improve contrast and reduce glare. However, experts remain sceptical on it’s purported benefits. As these glasses reduce the amount of light entering the eye, this makes it harder for the user to see properly.
Instead, choose glasses with an anti-reflective coating to prevent light from bouncing inside the lens.
Yellow tinted glasses
Tip 5: Schedule annual eye examination
An annual eye examination ensures that your prescription is up to date. Besides that, it screens eye conditions to identify them at an early stage, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and cataract.
Conclusion
Night driving can become increasingly difficult with age as cognitive function and vision decline. Hence, steps should be taken to ensure that older drivers can see properly at night for road safety. If you or your loved ones suffer from problems with vision, consult a doctor today.
Further reads:
Find an Ophthalmologist in Malaysia, on GetDoc
Find an Ophthalmologist in Singapore, on GetDoc
by Joanne Lee
Multipotentialite. Loves creating and seeing ideas come alive. View all articles by Joanne Lee.
