As parents and grandparents age, the senior citizen driver will need to take on a whole new role to stay mobile. It is not easy to see loved ones lose their driving privilege, since the majority of senior drivers have been driving for over fifty years and have come to associate driving with their independence.  As adults of senior loved ones, we need to know when to say, “It is no longer safe for you to drive”. Who should approach the mature driver? What can we do to keep everyone safe on the road?

Here are five steps to help focus on mature driver improvement.

1. When is it time to have a discussion with your mature driver?

Discussing driver safety with a senior driver can be a very sensitive subject. The thought of losing their driving privilege, and independence of being mobile, is a hard concept to grasp and will eventually interfere with the ability to drive, along with having to deal with the normal struggles of aging.  Unfortunately, everyone ages differently so some seniors will drive safely well into their late 70’s, 80’s and even 90’s, while others may no longer drive safely at 65, or possibly younger.  This decision would be easy for families if it were a question of age versus a question of capabilities. 

The sooner a family member can talk to their loved one about safe driving the sooner everyone becomes comfortable the topic and with subsequent conversations.  We suggest beginning conversations as early as 60 years old, or while they are at an age where their minds are clear to discuss the topic without hurt or anger. Let them know you want to lovingly discuss and begin monitoring their driving while there is no problem.

2.  Who should be the designated family member for the discussion?

Determining the appropriate family member to initiate this discussion is an important starting point.  It should create a positive experience with your senior driver since they typically prefer to speak in confidence about driving safely with someone they trust. A candid or authoritative family member may not be the ideal person to initiate early discussions, but may better serve as the implementer of driving decisions later on, if needed.

3. What are signs to recognize your mature driver should use alternate methods to stay mobile?

Factors increasing risk to your senior driver, and others, include visual decline, hearing loss, increase to medications, decreased reaction time, and limited mobility.  It is important to discuss changes like these right away and to continue monitoring them over time.

Additional noticeable signs on the road include not signaling when changing lanes, constant braking, excessive acceleration, slowed reaction time, or confusion between the brake and gas pedal. Seniors may also experience moments of disorientation, forgetfulness, become lost in their current surroundings, or start experiencing “close calls” (dents, hitting curbs, minor accidents), which should be “signals” that additional follow-up conversations are needed amongst family members.

Each of these “signs”, when isolated, may not warrant further action but families must have a system or process for correlating the impact of multiple “isolated” events to reach a final decision. A decision criterion framework needs to be defined early-on to prevent a family from making a pre-mature decision of rescinding their loved-ones’ driving privilege, or in the worse case not making a decision and enduring an irreversible event.

4.   Where can you find other methods for your loved ones to stay mobile and be independent?

When it comes time to take away the keys from your senior driver, make them feel confident and let them know this is not a loss of independence. A properly defined and completed decision framework requires the identification of driving alternatives for seniors. There is public transportation, specialized transit for seniors, community shuttles, neighbors, friends, and most important – family members.  You can also encourage seniors to build an online presence which may involve social networking in online senior communities, making online purchases, and staying in-touch with family so they remain connected to people. These are just a few recommendations to prepare your senior driver for maintaining independence without having to drive a vehicle.

5.  Why should we continue to have refresher courses?

Enrolling your senior driver in a driver refresher course will reinforce safe driving habits while on the road.  Classroom or online courses designed for mature drivers will help them sharpen their driving skills, avoid accidents, and reduce traffic violations.

By using these five tips, you are now “on the road” to keeping your senior drivers safe and encouraging them to focus on the safety of others. Remember to start the conversation early, identify the best candidate to start the discussion, know the early warning signs, establish criteria of when to take away their keys, offer alternative choices to stay mobile, and remember to enroll them in refresher classes to keep everyone safe.