Medicines and driving in older people

Many prescribed medicines can impair driving skills, at any age. Each year in Australia approximately 250 people aged 65 and over die from road crashes and approximately 4000 more are hospitalised. Older people are more likely to have comorbidities and require multiple medicines. Of particular concern in relation to driving are psychoactive medicines and other psychoactive substances including alcohol and other drugs. Alcohol, cannabis, opioids, gabapentinoids (pregabalin, gabapentin), stimulants and sedating medicines such as benzodiazepines are the substances of greatest concern in road safety. Patients who have complex medical conditions and take multiple medicines should be assessed for safety to drive a motor vehicle. Pharmacists have an important role to assess the impact of medicines on driving and other motor skills and counsel patients about the risks.