Sinai Hospital announces driver evaluation and rehabilitation training program for elderly drivers

Remember that feeling of finally getting your drivers' license? That feeling of freedom and independence is also connected to reaching many of our day-to-day activities. Yet a disability, illness or aging can affect our ability to be a safe driver by impairing our decision-making skills and our ability to control a vehicle. Being a child of an elderly parent also may mean it's time to talk about driving.

The facts: the danger of driving increases with age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there was a 19 percent increase in older drivers between 1997 and 2007. Motor vehicle crash deaths per capita among males and females begin to increase markedly starting at ages 70-74. Fatal crash rates increase starting at age 75 and increase notably after age 80.

That's why Sinai Hospital offers a driver evaluation and rehabilitation training program that can help maintain a loved one's independence while ensuring safety on the road. The evaluation at Sinai is a two-part process consisting of a pre-driving screening and a behind-the-wheel evaluation.