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Senior Driving


Your Driving :: Self Assessment Test

The purpose of this self-assessment is to promote safer driving by comparing your current driving abilities with the requirements for safe driving. By examining your driving, you are taking responsibility for your skills on the road and finding factors that can be improved to ensure safety for yourself and others.

Take the Test!! Please answer the following questions. Your results will be displayed at the end of the assessment.

Do you wear your seat belt?
Excellent!
TIP: Buckle up every time. It's the law!
Do you signal and look over your shoulder when changing lanes?
Excellent!
TIP: Stiffness in your neck or back may make it difficult to look over your shoulder to check your blind spots. Try some simple stretching techniques and adjust your mirrors to ensure visibility, and always remember to signal to other drivers before making a move!
Do you stay informed of changes in driving and highway regulations?
Excellent!
TIP: It is important that you understand current traffic laws, devices, signs, and symbols. Refresh your knowledge of the Driving Manual which you can obtain online or from your local DMV, and make a point of reading articles in your local newspaper for changes in traffic and road conditions.
Do you find it difficult to decide when to merge with traffic on a busy freeway?
Excellent!
TIP: Consider avoiding busy times of the day and roads with heavy traffic.
Do you think you are slower than you need to be in reacting to dangerous driving situations?
Excellent!
TIP: Most senior drivers have excellent judgment when driving, but have slower reaction times when dealing with emergency situations. The best way to keep yourself safe is to stay physically and mentally fit and avoid driving when you may be tired, ill, or taking any drug that slows your responses.
When you get really upset, does it show in your driving?
Excellent!
TIP: When you feel emotional, delay your driving until you have calmed down. Go for a walk or talk to someone about how you are feeling before you get behind the wheel.
Do your thoughts wander while you are driving?
Excellent!
TIP: Treat driving as a complicated task that requires your full attention. Try to remove or reduce distractions in your mind and in your vehicle.
Do traffic situations make you angry?
Excellent!
TIP: Take a few slow, deep breaths when you feel angry, and try to avoid traffic situations that would cause you to feel angry.
Do you get regular vision exams to keep your vision at its sharpest?
Excellent!
TIP: While your vision changes as you age, you can ensure safety on the road by getting eye exams about once a year.
Do you check with your physician about the effects of your medications on your driving ability? (If you do not take medications, skip this question)
Excellent!
TIP: Make a list of all of your medications and take them to your doctor or pharmacist to make sure that you are safe to drive while taking your medications.
Do you try to stay informed of current information on health practices and habits?
Excellent!
TIP: Learn more about the relationships between good health practices and how they can help you safely drive longer. Take control of your health habits through good nutrition, exercise, and medical check-ups.
Are your children, other family members or friends concerned about your driving ability?
Excellent!
TIP: Carefully listen to your loved ones and their concerns regarding your driving. While it may be difficult to accept criticism, these people can provide a valuable opportunity to learn how your driving can be improved.
Do you frequently get in accidents, receive traffic violations, or have 'discussions' with officers?
Excellent!
TIP: Examine why you had the accident or received the traffic violation and think of ways you can avoid the same occurrence in the future.
Do you frequently get lost while driving on routes that were once familiar?
Excellent!
TIP: This could be a sign of dementia or other mental health issues that may be addressed by talking to your doctor.
Do other cars appear out of nowhere?
Excellent!
TIP: This is a dangerous situation that could result in an accident. Be alert and constantly check your surroundings while driving.
Do you have trouble seeing signs in time to respond to them?
Excellent!
TIP: Even through your reaction times slow with age, you want to make sure that you still have time to respond to signs without putting yourself or others in danger.
Do other drivers drive too fast?
Excellent!
TIP: While this may be true, keep yourself safe by avoiding busy roads and staying in the right lane.
Do other drivers honk at you?
Excellent!
TIP: Think carefully about the times that other drivers have honked at you and what might have caused them to do so.
Does driving cause stress?
Excellent!
TIP: While some stress is natural, too much stress while driving may be unhealthy and put you at risk for accidents.
After driving, do you feel tired?
Excellent!
TIP: Stop to take a break after every 90 minutes of driving, or sooner if needed.
When making a right turn at an intersection, do you strike the curb or run over it?
Excellent!
TIP: Carefully inspect turns before you make them, and adjust your seat and mirrors to ensure maximum visibility when turning.
Do you have trouble turning the steering wheel?
Excellent!
TIP: Inability to turn the wheel may be a result of diminished strength. Make sure your steering wheel is adjusted to a comfortable position and keep yourself in good physical shape for driving.
Do you have trouble pressing down on the gas or brake pedals?
Excellent!
TIP: Diminished strength may make it harder to push down on the pedals, which are both needed to drive. Exercise regularly to keep yourself in the best shape for driving.
Do you attempt turns from the wrong lane?
Excellent!
TIP: This is a very dangerous action which could result in a severe accident.
Do people accept rides from you?
Excellent!
TIP: While it may be hard to accept, your friends and family are the best judges of your driving. Talk to them about their concerns to find ways to improve your driving to make others feel safe in your vehicle.
Do you feel overwhelmed by all of the signs, signals, markings, pedestrians, and other vehicles that you must pay attention to at intersections?
Excellent!
TIP: Driving is a complex task that requires many decisions in short periods of time. If you answered 'Always', consider avoiding busy roads and intersections.
Do you have trouble realizing that a car has slowed or stopped ahead of you?
Excellent!
TIP: You may feel this is true as a result of diminished perception.
Do you have trouble judging how fast you are approaching a stopped vehicle?
Excellent!
TIP: This could result in a rear-end collision, putting yourself and other drivers in danger.
Do you confuse the gas and the brake pedals?
Excellent!
TIP: This confusion can make you a very dangerous driver. Familiarize yourself with both pedals and practice using them while moving slowly down a long driveway or in an empty parking lot.
Do you notice scrapes and dents on your vehicle, garage or mailbox?
Excellent!
TIP: This may mean that you are hitting things without realizing it. Document when you find scrapes or dents and try to figure out what you may have hit and when. Also, adjust your seats and mirrors to find your maximum visibility and decrease your risk for collisions with other objects.
 


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SERVICE DISCLAIMER: Customers are required to wear shirts and shoes in order to conduct business at DMV. Services will not be rendered if customers are not wearing shirts or shoes. Thank you for your understanding.

 

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Email: DMV Customer Svc

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