Page 19 - Safe Mobility for Life E-book

Arthritis

Many people experience the pain, swelling, and stiffness CHAPTER 1
caused by arthritis. It can limit your ability to move
and bend your hips, hands, head, neck, and shoulders
making it more difficult to manage even the most
basic driving task. Arthritis can affect your driving in the
following ways:

▶ Difficulty holding and turning your steering wheel

▶ Trouble fastening your safety belt

▶ Difficulty looking over your shoulder to check for cars
in your blind spot

▶ Issues pressing on the brake or gas pedal

Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease affects the central nervous system
controlling muscle movement causing hands, arms, and
legs to shake. While it can occur at any age, it usually
affects people 60 and older. Parkinson’s can affect your
driving in the following ways:

▶ Reacting quickly to road hazards

▶ Using the gas pedal or pushing down the brake when
you need to react quickly

▶ Driving at night because of changes to your vision

Chapter 1: Understand 15