Study: Older drivers unaware of risk of driving while medicated

Most older drivers are not aware of the potential dangers of driving while medicated, according to a report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

The study found that 78 percent of respondents used at least one medication, yet only a little more than one quarter were aware of the potential dangers of driving while medicated.

The study was based on interviews with 630 drivers aged 56 to 93, and was conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Just 18 percent of respondents said they had been warned about medications that could impair their ability to drive, such as ACE inhibitors, sedatives and beta blockers.

Finally, in early 2010, the AAA Foundation will release Roadwise RX, a free Web-based tool that will help raise awareness regarding the risks associated with driving and medication. Specifically, the resource will allow older drivers to enter medication information through a search function, which will then calculate risks based on age, gender and weight.