THE ABILITY TO DRIVE ALLOWS SENIORS to maintain their mobility and independence, socialize with friends and family, and manage daily activities on their own terms and according to their own schedule. Unfortunately, as people get older, the physical and cognitive changes commonly associated with the aging process can begin to interfere with their ability to drive safely, potentially putting them and other people at risk.
There is no set age at which driving skills begin to falter— indeed, many people are able to remain behind the wheel safely throughout their senior years.
However, there are certain indications that suggest it may be time for a senior loved one to consider hanging up the car keys. These include (but aren’t limited to) the following six signs:
1. Frequent vehicle damage Occasional minor scratches on a vehicle’s body aren’t necessarily cause for concern, but the frequent appearance of new dents, dings, or scrapes could indicate that your senior loved one is developing a pattern of carelessness when driving and/or parking. Of course, a string of more serious accidents should definitely trigger alarm bells.
2. Multiple traffic citations Similarly, if your senior loved one is accumulating more than the rare ticket or warning from police officers for traffic violations, this trend may be an indication that his or her driving is becoming more erratic and unsafe.
3. Delayed reaction time
It’s normal for our reflexes to slow down as we age, but when driving, delayed reaction time can have serious or even tragic consequences. A common sign to watch for is taking too long to apply the brakes at a stoplight or stop sign or failing to act decisively to unexpected situations such as a vehicle ahead of them suddenly slowing or stopping, a pedestrian entering a crosswalk against the signal, or a vehicle suddenly merging in front of them.
4. Deteriorating vision
When driving, we depend on sight more than any other sense to take in all the information we encounter on the road—traffic signs and signals, lane markings, road hazards, the location of other vehicles, the presence of pedestrians, etc. Not only is deteriorating visual acuity a normal part of aging for many people, but seniors are also increasingly vulnerable to eye diseases that can affect driving safety, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. It’s important for our senior loved ones to continue getting regular vision and eye-health exams to ensure their continued safety behind the wheel.
5. Anxiety over driving at night or in bad weather Reluctance to drive in the dark or in inclement weather is not, in itself, a sign that a senior loved one is becoming unsafe behind the wheel. After all, most drivers prefer well-illuminated, dry roads to ones that are dark, wet, snowy, or icy. However, because driving after dark or in inclement weather is even more demanding than normal in terms of visual processing and reaction time, unusual anxiety over driving under these less-than-ideal conditions can signify that a senior is beginning to lose confidence in his or her driving ability.
6. Unusual confusion or mood changes while driving Does your senior loved one seem disoriented and/or get lost while driving in familiar areas or to familiar destinations like the grocery store? If so, it’s possible he or she is experiencing the onset of dementia or other cognitive changes that make driving unsafe.
Also keep an eye out for other mood or behavioral changes that might indicate your senior loved one is feeling overwhelmed while driving, for example appearing unusually tense or expressing uncharacteristic anger with or frustration toward other drivers.
Again, it’s important to note that observing one or more of these indications (or other worrisome signs not discussed here) does not necessarily mean it’s time to take away your senior loved one’s keys. It should, however, start a conversation in which you can both share your concerns as well as discuss possible solutions, which could range anywhere from getting a new vision prescription to arranging an alternate mode of transportation. The sooner you have this conversation, the better—and safer—it will be for your senior loved one and everyone else on the road. ✲
