As adult children watch parents age, concerns for their health and safety may become overwhelming. Failing eyesight, memory loss, and changes in levels of concentration are signs that elderly parents need to reassess their ability to safely operate a vehicle. Having that conversation with a parent is often difficult. They may interpret it as a loss of freedom and independence. It may be difficult to accept the biological changes that occur with aging. It can be a frightening time for them, and everyone involved. But understanding how aging affects safe driving and knowing what signs to watch for can help ease this lifestyle transition.
Effects of Aging on Driving
Safe driving requires a keen state of awareness. The ability to assess distances, other vehicles, speeds, and traffic signals while operating a vehicle takes cognitive coordination that wanes with age. Physical and mental changes that may decrease driving capabilities for older people include:
- Loss of vision
- Loss of hearing
- Slower reflexes and response time
- Loss of strength and flexibility
- Increased side effects to medication, particularly drowsiness
- Lower alcohol tolerance
When one or more of these changes occur simultaneously, it is time to reassess your parent’s driving situation. Ensure that his or her hearing and vision have been tested recently and that eyeglass prescriptions are up to date. Has your parent recently visited a physician for a full check up? What prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs has he or she been taking? What kinds of side effects of the medication are relevant to your parent’s ability to operate a vehicle? These are good questions to investigate.
Signs of Declining Driving Abilities
To assess your parent’s ability to drive safely, take note of certain telltale signs. It may be time to hang up the keys if your parent:
- Disregards or misreads street signs
- Drives at unfitting speeds, too fast or slow
- Takes no notice of or responds too slowly to pedestrians, bicyclists, or other vehicles with the right-of-way
- Asks for help when checking for right-of-way clearance
- Misjudges distances
- Drifts from lane
- Consistently forgets to turn on headlights in the dark
- Bumps into curbs
Adapting to Change
When the time comes to discuss these issues, elderly drivers may become defensive or angry at the thought of relinquishing their licenses. Consider having the discussion with either a physician, clergy, friend, or caregiver of your parent there with you. A balance of compassion and assertion is necessary to battle denial. If safety allows, a solution may lie in adjusting certain boundaries of driving rather than stopping completely. Examples include:
- Avoiding night driving
- Avoiding highways, expressways, freeways, and rush hour
- Never driving alone
- Driving only to familiar places
- Driving only to places within a certain distance of home
Hancock Injury Attorneys– Florida Injury Attorneys
Handling your elderly parent’s declining driving ability can be an emotionally challenging process. However, should the unfortunate event of an accident occur before you can approach your loved one, he or she may become overwhelmed with medical expenses and physical ailments. At Hancock Injury Attorneys, we are here to help. While we sincerely hope you never have to deal with such an accident, Attorney Mike Hancock’s extensive insurance industry experience provides him with insider knowledge in motor vehicle accident cases. He will examine your unique circumstances to determine the best possible strategy for moving forward. Call Hancock Injury Attorneys today for a free consultation.
