Is It Safe For Our Aging Parents to Drive?

Should our aging parents be driving and what can be done to make driving easier and safer for them?

Please don't take away your parents driving privileges unless you have a good replacement because otherwise you will leave them stranded and lonely and I know that isn't what you want for them.

I have an Aunt who has always been very independent and loves going out and shopping every day.  Last year she turned 90 and her daughter decided that she didn't want her mother driving anymore so she took away the car, but she didn't give her a suitable option for getting around.  Now my Aunt sits at home alone and is very lonely and depressed.  Her daughter is always busy and doesn't have time to take her out and see to her driving needs daily so taking away her driving privileges has has a very negative effect on her mental status.  

There are recent studies that show taking away driving privileges can cause depression and lead to a failure to thrive in a elderly person unless measures are taken to allow them the freedom they had with a car.

 AARP has a list of ten signs to help you determine when it's time for an older driver to hand over their keys.

*Frequent "close calls"

*Dents, scrapes on the car, fences, mailboxes,     garage doors, curbs, etc.

*Trouble judging gaps in traffic at intersections and on highway entrance/exit ramps

*Other drivers honking

*Getting lost.

*Trouble seeing the sides of the road when looking straight ahead

*Slower response time, trouble moving foot from gas to brake pedal or confusing pedals.

*Getting distracted easily or having trouble concentrating

*Difficulty turning head to check over shoulder while backing up or changing lanes

*Traffic tickets or warnings by law enforcement officers in the last year or two.

Experts say that your parent may still be able to drive with some modifications, like self-regulating when and where to drive.

Giving up the keys is not usually the answer and most people can safely drive through the end of their lives as long as they are aware of their limitations and only drive in situations where they are comfortable doing so.  It could be as easy as them planning their route and taking only right turns to their destination even if it takes a little longer. 

Most older drivers self-regulate by taking only roads they're familiar with, avoiding certain roads and places and not driving in bad weather or at night.


In my opinion you should let your parent drive for as long as they feel comfortable.  Tell them that any time they need you to drive them somewhere they don't feel comfortable driving you will always be available and this way they avoid driving in situations they don't feel that they can manage.


Helping our aging parents to maintain their independence for as long as they can is important for their well being and if they know they can always count on us to be there when they need us that will make it so much easier for them to ask for help when they need it.