“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
Aristotle
Knowing when it’s time to hang up your car keys is not a decision that many older adults find easy to make. They may worry that they will lose their independence or become more isolated. But it may be a decision that allows them to live more freely, without anxiety that they might cause an accident that harms themselves or others.
Thoughtfully considering whether it’s time to let someone else do the driving demonstrates self-awareness and allows a person to live with dignity and calm.
Here are some ways older adults can assess their ability to drive on their own, rather than having an adult child or law enforcement insist that it’s time for them to stop.
Many factors may affect a person’s ability to drive safely as they get older.
Stiff muscles and joints, slower reaction times, reduced vision and hearing, medications, and a wide range of other factors come into play. Understanding what may cause a person’s driving abilities to slip is an important first step to understanding whether you are able to drive safely or may need to stop. The National Institute on Aging lists the various factors and offers tips for driving safely. This includes taking a driver safety class that can help ensure that your skills are in tip-top shape. The American Automobile Association (AAA), for instance, offers a senior driving safety course.
No one wants to think of themselves as a bad driver, but being honest with yourself about your driving abilities is crucial to making an informed decision. Older adults should ask themselves such questions as: Do I get lost more often, even in areas I know well? Do others honk at me or seem frustrated with my driving? Have I had recent accidents, dents or traffic tickets? Is it difficult for me to brake quickly or turn my head? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers a self-assessment tool that can help a person better understand their driving abilities.
Hard as it may be to do, it’s a good idea to consider asking others who know you well whether they have noticed that your driving skills are not as proficient as they once were. This may provide valuable insights into whether it is time to retire from driving. No one wants to get into a position where a close call or an accident forces the decision.
Driving safely requires the use of multiple senses: vision, hearing, mobility, cognition and memory, and it’s important to understand whether each of these are performing as needed when driving. A physician can help an older adult assess whether it’s still safe for them to drive or suggest adjustments such as driving only during the day or only locally.
Senior services organizations in your own community, county or state often offer driving assessments for older adults. These evaluations are objective, confidential and focused on safety and practical skills. This can help a person be more objective about their driving skills.
It’s important to understand that requirements to keep a driver’s license in order to drive become more stringent as a person ages legally. In some states, for instance, drivers aged 69 to 80 can renew their licenses every four years, while those in the 81 to 86 year age bracket must renew every two years. Having an evaluation before a decision to no longer drive is forced upon them can help an older person feel more in control and plan for how their life as a non-driver will look.
If worries about losing one’s independence are keeping a person from deciding to no longer drive, then going without driving for a short time can help a person plan for how they will manage day-to-day living without a car. The life of a non-driver may not be as inhibiting as the driver feared.
There are many transportation options geared to older adults, including senior services agencies that offer dial-a-ride programs. Ride share services like Uber, Lyft and GoGo Grandparent have also popped up in recent years to provide rides to people of all ages. Delivery services like Instacart answer other needs, such as delivering groceries.
Deciding on no longer driving may have consequences that provide benefits. It may prompt a person to consider moving to a senior living community where transportation is provided to residents. This eliminates worries or concerns about driving.
Instead of viewing no longer driving as a loss of freedom, reframing it as an informed decision that will keep the driver and others safe can help a person to accept and feel good about their decision. They can take heart and feel proud about choosing a lifestyle that benefits themselves and others.
At Pisgah Valley Retirement, our concierge service, along with our scheduled transportation service can help get you where you want to be while eliminating the need for you to drive.
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