America’s romance with cars is deeply entrenched in our culture. From the time teenagers get their license, to taking the great American road trip, to the upgrade to a dream vehicle, we all fall in love with driving and being on the road. The freedom we associate with driving a car is precious, which is why it’s so hard for many senior drivers to give up their keys.
Concerned sons, daughters and grandkids might notice unexplained dents in their senior loved ones’ cars, or find that they have to remind driving seniors about upcoming stop signs or lights. When those things start happening, it’s natural to want to talk about senior driving safety.
But it’s important to remember, when deciding to have a talk with a loved one about driving safely, it’s not a black-and-white situation. Just having the talk doesn’t mean that anyone must stop driving immediately – there are options and it’s important for everyone involved to remember that.
Initiating the conversation early on is a good way to start, especially when you start noticing your loved one getting lost in familiar places, experiencing changes in medications or health conditions or being involved in fender benders. Make it positive by talking about upcoming holidays and how you’ll get to the festivities. Set out a commitment to get together and talk again the first time there are warning signs of change in a senior driver’s abilities.
If those changes have already started, it might be time for a senior driving test. You can sign up for evaluations to get an objective opinion, but in some places, driving evaluations are mandatory for seniors. Refer to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or organizations like American Association of Retired People (AARP) which can give you more information about the evaluations that are necessary.
There are times when seniors won’t want to give up driving in spite of warning signs like driving citations, close calls and minor accidents. If or when it comes to that stage, talking about safety is key: the safety of the senior driver, the safety of others on the road and the safety of pedestrians and passengers in the car. Ultimately, when driving becomes dangerous for everyone in the equation, it’s time to put away the keys and find other methods of transport.
