Thesis Source A; Medicated Driving Elderly Awareness, by David Gutierrez; Feb. 2, 2010


  MAIN IDEA                              QUOTES/EVIDENCE                                   RESPONSE                  
(1) few elderly are aware            study conducted by U of                          The risks are real.
of the effects their meds.             Alabama @ Birmington                           Serious issue.
have on their driving.                  & AAA Foundation for                            We need to advise users
                                                    Traffic Safety report.                                 of the hazardous risks.

(2) awareness of the risks           Studies linked med. use to                        Exact # of accidents is
decreases with age while            an increase in the risk of                           unknown because safety
their meds. use increases.           auto collisions.                                          agencies don't test for
                                                                                                                      drug presence in drivers.


(3) Dr.s aren't informing             problem will worsen as elderly                Patients need to know how
their elderly patients of               population increases & be-                       their meds. will impair
the driving risks of their             come uninformed medicated                     their driving; they can
medications.                               drivers.                                                       research for themselves
                                                                                                                      @ www.roadwiseRx


(4) Natural News inter-              28% knew of the driving risk                    Should Dr.s tell DOL of       viewed 630 drivers aged            from being impaired; 18% of                     patients prescribed drug
56-93.                                         those were taking drugs known                 use?
                                                    to impair driving.                                      Stress to elderly drivers
                                                                                                                      how dangerous it is to
                                                                                                                      drive medicated.