As your mom or dad grows older, worries about their safety become more common, especially when it comes to the ability to drive. Age alone isn’t always a helpful indicator as to when a person ought to stop driving.
“Not all older adults experience a decline in their physical function and it is important not to paint all older people and older drivers with a broad brush,” the New York State Office for the Aging explains. “Being older does not necessarily translate into disability but there are certainly higher risks associated with being older that places older drivers at more risk.”
It helps to be aware of the factors that can affect driving. According to the National Institute on Aging, a number of common health conditions and medication side effects may influence a person’s driving skills, including:
- slower reaction time and slower reflexes
- stiff joints and muscles
- trouble seeing
- trouble hearing
- medications that cause drowsiness, lightheadedness, or loss of alertness.
So, what are signs that an older parent may need to stop driving? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends making observations as a passenger or following behind in a separate vehicle and observing whether the driver is:
- Slowing or stopping inappropriately, such as at green lights or in intersections;
- Driving too fast for road conditions;
- Driving so slowly as to impede the safe flow of traffic;
- Driving aggressively; or
- Getting lost routinely on routes that should be familiar for the driver.
If direct observation isn’t an option, the National Institute on Aging recommends looking out for the following signs of potential difficulty:
- Multiple vehicle crashes, near misses, or new dents or scrapes on the car;
- Two or more traffic tickets or warnings within the last two years;
- Increases in car insurance premiums because of driving issues;
- Comments from neighbors or friends about erratic, unsafe, or aggressive driving;
- Anxiety about driving at night;
- Health issues that might affect driving, including problems with vision, hearing, and movement;
- Complaints about the speed, sudden lane changes, or actions of other drivers;
- Recommendations from a doctor to modify driving habits or quit driving entirely.
Even when not behind the wheel, there are certain changes in health or behavior that can relate to difficulty driving. The NHTSA highlights the following “danger signals” for older adults:
- Forgetfulness (frequent and combined with other signs);
- Unusual or excessive agitation;
- Confusion and disorientation;
- Loss of coordination and trouble with stiffness in joints;
- Trouble walking, swallowing, hearing, or following verbal instructions;
- Dizziness when changing positions, tripping, and falling;
- Shortness of breath and general fatigue; and
- Difficulty following verbal instructions, and/or giving inappropriate responses to those instructions.
AAA has a self-rating form for seniors called “Drivers 65 Plus: Check Your Performance” designed to help examine one’s ability to keep
driving safely.
The New York State Office for the Aging developed a handbook entitled “Are You Concerned about an Older Driver?” specifically to help families, friends and caregivers facing the dilemma of what to do when an aging loved one is at-risk driving. The handbook is available online and you can request a printed copy by calling the Office for the Aging at 1-800-342-9871.
