Published: September 15, 2009 08:55 am      

Hidden threat

Most not aware how medications affect drivers

If you are age 55 or over and taking one or more prescription medications for medical conditions, the odds are good that you have no idea of the impact those medications may have on your ability to drive a car.

In other words, the law prohibits people from operating motor vehicles while their ability to do so is impaired by drugs or alcohol — and you may be doing just that, without being aware of it.

The AAA Foundation recently released a study that indicated 78 percent of people 55 or older use one or more medications, but only 28 percent are aware that those medications can affect their ability to drive, and only 18 percent had been warned of the possibility by a health care professional.

With age comes maturity, and as we grow older we become more aware of the need to drive safely and responsibly — and the potential consequences if we fail to do so.

Here is one pitfall that many people might never have thought about, and it’s one that can easily be avoided.

While physicians and pharmacists have a need to educate their patients about the effect of medications, it’s equally the responsibility of the patient to ask questions and to read the labels and literature that accompanies their medication.

If you are taking one or more prescription medications, it would be a good idea to contact your health care professional and find out how it may be affecting your ability to drive.

The AAA’s Web site, www.AAASeniors.com, offers a forum to help senior drivers and their families to identify and address this and other issues that involve them.