Elderly Drivers: Warning Signs and Safety Tips

Don’t wait for an accident to occur

I’ve talked a little bit about driving and the elderly before, but this is a topic that has a lot of ground to cover. Here I’ll discuss some specific warning signs that may show it’s time to consider whether or not your elder should be driving. Be sure to keep in mind that not all older drivers experience deterioration in their driving skills. However, the changes that often come with age, including vision and hearing loss as well as slower reaction times, can affect driving ability.

Here are some of the important questions to consider and steps you can take if the answer to any of them is yes.

• Does the driver struggle to read street signs, or does his or her vision seem compromised?
• Is the person a competent driver during the day but incompetent at night?
• Does he or she do well driving locally but struggle at higher speeds or when directions are needed?
• Does the driver get lost, even on familiar roads?

For the first concern, it is not uncommon for vision to get worse as you get older. It can be hard to see at night and progressively harder to read street signs, even during the day. To combat this, make sure your elder has his (or her) vision checked often (every one to two years). Make sure he wears glasses, if necessary, while driving, and keep the windshield and side mirrors clean. If he has difficulty driving at night, he should avoid it. He should also avoid driving at dawn or dusk, when glare can be especially bad.

If your elder is getting lost often, limit her (or him) to driving only to familiar locations, and have her avoid driving to places far away from home. Make sure that she always allows plenty of time to get to wherever she’s going.

If she’s going somewhere farther away, have a friend or relative drive, or look into a taxi service or public transportation. Sometimes taking a train ride or a road trip can be part of the fun!

If higher speeds and reaction times are a problem, have her avoid driving on freeways, especially during rush-hour traffic. If she must drive on freeways, encourage her to stay in the right lane, where traffic moves more slowly. She should always leave plenty of space between her car and the car immediately ahead, just in case she has to brake suddenly.

Just a quick note: It might be a good idea to look into any medications your elder is taking. A lot of medications have drowsiness as a side effect. If your loved one takes any of these medications, make sure that he doesn’t take them before driving and NEVER drives if he feels lightheaded or drowsy. Consider talking to your elder’s doctor about possible alternatives.

Here are a few more questions to consider:

• Is the driver hitting curbs, missing turns, or putting pedestrians at risk?
• Has he or she been in an accident that was deemed his or her fault?
• Does the driver say that cars or pedestrians seem to appear out of nowhere?
• Have family, friends, or doctors expressed worries about the person's driving?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you should start to seriously consider if it’s time to take the keys away. Discuss the situation with your loved one’s doctor to get a second opinion (and a voice of authority), and then take the necessary steps. Always take your elder’s feelings into consideration and show compassion and sensitivity.

By Dr. Marion
Elder Care Made Easier Blog

[A version of this blog originally appeared on Dr. Marion’s Web site.]