Senior Drivers
Concerned about your parents ability to drive?
Are senior drivers safe?
You know the importance driving is to their life and how much it means to them. You also want them and other people on the road to be safe.
This guide will answer some of your questions and more, including:
- Warning signs
- Are my parents too old to drive?
- Who can help determine if they are unsafe
- Safe senior driving tips
- Talking to your parents when it's time to stop driving
- What to do when your parents will not stop driving
- How to help your parents after they stop driving
Warning signs
- Becoming lost in familiar areas
- Changing lanes without looking
- Stopping at green lights
- Not noticing traffic signals
- Hitting or nearly hitting objects or people and not noticing
- Difficulty judging distances, speed and seeing other vehicles, pedestrians and traffic signals
- Feeling more nervous while driving
- Other drivers are honking at them
- Difficulty moving foot from one pedal to the other
- Slow reaction to other vehicles
Are my parents too old to drive?
Age does not cause accidents. However, some senior drivers take medications and have conditions that affect their ability to safely operate motor vehicles. There are seniors who continue to safely drive in their 80's and 90's!
Some of the risk factors for older drivers include:
- Decreased vision
- Hearing loss
- Slower reaction time
- Limited strength and flexibility
- Medication side effects
- Memory loss
If you are questioning your parents ability to drive, please consult their medical doctor and local driving authority for local resources and testing.
Who can help determine if they are unsafe?
- Medical doctors and other health care professionals
- Specialized driver test centers focused on senior drivers
- Family members who can report changes to health care professional and motor vehicle authorities
Safe driving tips
- Plan your route ahead of time
- Avoid heavy traffic areas
- Avoid driving at night
- Avoid driving in bad weather
- Use familiar roads
- Use rear view and side mirrors often
- Stay alert
- Always wear your seatbelt
- Consider using alternative transportation such as buses, taxis, walking and electric scooters
- Drive less often
- Take a driver refresher course
- Get regular medical check-ups, medication reviews and memory and vision tests
- Participate in regular exercise and stretching to maintain strength and flexibility to safely operate a vehicle
Talking to your parents when it's time to stop driving
Understand that driving is very important to many older adults. It provides seniors with:
- Freedom
- Independence
- Fun and spontaneity
- Allows them to be involved in various community and social activities
Some tips and suggestions:
- Be understanding about your parents resistance to stop driving
- Talk about safety for them and others
- Explain alternative transportation
- Offer rides
- Explain the cost savings of not driving
- Try to avoid demands and focus on asking questions and listening to their concerns
- Help them to decide instead of deciding for them
What to do when your parents will not stop driving?
- Ask their doctor to report them to the motor vehicle authorities
- Take their car and keys away
- Ask the local police department to explain the legal implications of their actions
How to help your parents after they stop driving
- Offer rides
- Help them coordinate services that deliver such as grocery stores and pharmacies
- Help them find other ways to get around such as buses, taxis, volunteer driving programs and electric scooters
- Help them maintain their regular schedule as it is important to stay active
- Don't let them sit at home because they cannot drive
