Think back to the day you got your driver’s license. It probably felt so freeing to go wherever you wanted—just you and the open road with endless possibilities. Now imagine what it feels like to start questioning whether it’s safe for you to get behind the wheel. That’s the reality for many older drivers who experience the physical and cognitive effects of aging.
If you’re an older adult, determining when it’s time to stop driving can be a difficult decision to make, and if you’re an individual with an aging loved one, the conversation about when they should stop driving can sometimes be even harder to have. Luckily, there are specific signs to look for that indicate when it’s time to turn in the keys, as well as a cognitive driving test for seniors that assesses if being behind the wheel is still safe for the senior driver and others on the road.
Not sure what those warning signs are, or still on the fence about the cognitive assessment? We’re here to provide insight on how to navigate this challenging experience regarding whether you or your loved one can still drive safely.
How the Cognitive & Physical Effects of Aging Impact Driving Ability
It takes a lot of awareness and physical dexterity to carefully and effectively operate a vehicle. As we age, things like our vision and reaction time can decline, and it may be more difficult for our bodies to do necessary things like steering the wheel, checking blind spots, or turning around to back up or out of a parking spot.
According to the National Institute on Aging, medical conditions and injuries can impact an older adult’s driving ability. Health conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, glaucoma, and cataracts are extremely common in the older adult population and can make it even harder to drive confidently because they impact the mind and body.
Driving Performance Evaluation & Signs to Watch For
While it may not be easy to give up the independence of driving yourself, or to inform your loved one their driving ability has declined, there are clear signs that can help indicate and evaluate an older adult’s driving performance. These occurrences provide concrete examples as to why it’s safer for your loved one to explore alternative methods of transportation. It also helps them come to terms with the fact that by graduating from driving they’re also helping to prevent potentially dangerous situations from happening. Common signs that it’s time for a senior driver to stop driving include:
- Agitation or anxiety when behind the wheel or planning to drive somewhere.
- Multiple fender-benders, near-miss accidents, or reoccurring damage to the vehicle.
- Frequently getting lost or turned around in their neighborhood or other familiar areas.
- Difficulty seeing, reacting to, or interpreting things like stop signs, stop lights, intersections, or heavy traffic.
- Often drifting between lanes without realizing what they are doing.
- Consistently driving 10 miles per hour or more below the posted speed limit.
- Feeling extremely exhausted from a short, easy drive (like to the grocery store, church, or a neighbor’s home).
- Having family and friends vocally and repeatedly express their concerns about a senior’s driving habits while they are riding as a passenger in the senior’s car.
How a Cognitive Driving Test Can Help Older Drivers
A cognitive driving test for seniors is a beneficial tool used to assess driving skills. After completing the test, older adults are presented with real data to help them determine whether or not they still have the mental and physical ability to operate a vehicle. The cognitive driving test evaluates key requirements, such as:
- Attention and focus
- Reaction time
- Decision-making under pressure
- Memory and problem-solving skills
- Hand-eye coordination
If you are interested in participating in a cognitive assessment yourself, or you would like a loved one to take part in one, there are compassionate, caring professionals who can facilitate the test. Some cognitive driving tests take place in a driving clinic, while others are offered by driving rehabilitation specialists who can evaluate the older adult’s driving and offer feedback, provide appropriate suggestions or modifications that can be made, and even give advice on how to naturally transition from being a fulltime driver to a fulltime passenger.
How Loved Ones Can Support Their Older Drivers
Whether it’s your parent, grandparent, or an older individual you care for, it can be extremely challenging to tell someone you love that they can no longer drive themselves places. One great way to start the conversation about transitioning out of driving is to be open and honest about how much you care for them, so they know it’s coming from a genuine place. Another useful tip is to highlight how important their well-being and security is to you, instead of focusing on how they could be jeopardizing the safety of other drivers by getting behind the wheel. Other tips include:
- Offer to drive them places or pay for their transportation for the first few rides after they stop driving. If they’re feeling apprehensive about ride-sharing services such as Uber or Lyft, try going on a couple of rides with them until they feel more comfortable.
- If they have a weekly routine, or a consistent schedule, help them figure out the best routes for public transportation. Also, help them determine whether a bus, subway, train, taxi, or other type of public transportation fits their needs.
- Does your loved one have a neighbor or nearby friend who they spend a lot of time with? See if they can carpool places with them if they are still driving, or suggest they get an Uber or Lyft together.
- Research volunteer and community shuttles near your loved one. Often senior centers and nonprofits offer this service to help older adults easily get to and from doctor’s appointments, salon trips, grocery store visits, church services, and more.
- Explore options with the Village to Village Network—a nonprofit that connects neighbors to other neighbors who may need a helping hand. With this resource, older adults can be connected to neighbors who volunteer to drive them wherever they may need to go. Visit the Village to Village Network’s website to find a village near you!
Additional Resources to Support the “Time to Stop Driving” Talk
If you are an adult child, the “time to stop driving” conversation can be difficult to have with your parent, but it can also be difficult for your parent to hear this recommendation coming from you. If you find this to be the case, try seeking out the guidance of a trained professional who can come in as an unbiased, third-party member. The advice may seem less personal and even more qualified if it isn’t coming from you or your other family members.
According to AARP, there are also insightful resources such as We Need to Talk—a free, online seminar developed collaboratively by Hartford and MIT AgeLab—that can help guide you through effective, yet kind, ways to get your point across. The most significant thing to keep in mind when discussing whether your loved one should stop driving or not is to be sensitive to their feelings and express how much you care about them. They may be upset at first, but in the end, they will realize their safety is of the utmost importance to you.
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