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How to Take the Keys Away From an Elderly Driver: A Step-by-Step Guide
Our Parents ^ | February 24, 2024 | Staff

Posted on 09/06/2025 5:16:14 AM PDT by DoodleBob

1. Look for signs of unsafe driving

There’s no specific age to stop driving, but accidents resulting in injury or death do increase with age.[01] If you question your loved one’s ability to drive safely, consider riding with them occasionally and keeping notes of your observations. Be on the lookout for the following warning signs:

Increased accidents or tickets

Canceled car insurance policy or increased premiums

Signs of scrapes and minor collisions on their vehicle

An inability to turn their head to see behind the car and check blind spots

Trouble seeing at night

Driving the wrong way

Speeding on residential streets or driving too slowly on highways

Stopping at all intersections, regardless of signs and signals

Drifting across lanes

Forgetting to wear their seatbelt, turn on headlights, or use turn signals

Forgetting where they’re going or getting lost

Using the brakes instead of the gas pedal, and vice versa

Driving anxiety

Slowed response time

Trouble making decisions in the moment

Know your options if your loved one refuses to stop driving. Some families may take drastic action, like hiding a senior’s car keys or immobilizing their car. These steps may keep them off the road, but they can spark additional conflict and may be illegal. In some states, you can request a driver review with the DMV regarding elderly driving concerns. In some cases, speaking with the local police force about how to legally stop someone with dementia from driving may be necessary to keep your loved one safe.

(Excerpt) Read more at ourparents.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Society
KEYWORDS: automotive; driving; elderly; elderlydrivers; parents
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To: V_TWIN

-——driving too slowly on highways——

A test will not affect the inability to cope with the reality of driving on interstate highways.

Driving slow on the road and especially on off ramps is a big problem for some older people with reduced reaction time.

At 83 I know for certain that there is no effective test that will resolve the issue.


21 posted on 09/06/2025 6:17:53 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Where is ZORRO when California so desperately needs him?)
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time

Actually, I retract it. After more research, those under 30 are all worse per miles driven. I will send a link later when at my computer.


22 posted on 09/06/2025 6:18:14 AM PDT by Codeflier (Don't worry....be happy )
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To: DoodleBob

Here’s an approach that will work for me when the time comes:

Focus on the biggest and earliest sign: loss of night vision and inability to adjust to bright headlights of opposing cars.

These are limitations we older people readily admit to and openly complain about. Sure, we may blame it on the modern headlights being too bright or failure of today’s drivers to lower their high beams.

There is some truth to this - the headlights have gotten brighter, and more and more drivers do lack etiquette regarding leaving their high beams on.

So this is a way of meeting half way on the subject of difficulties of night driving - sharing the blame so to speak - rather than simply saying we’re too old to drive. While you’re at it, you could bring up how insane it is to raise the speed limits so high beyond the 55 we grew up with. I’ll give you an earful. Then we could talk about how Leftists want to confiscate everyone’s guns if it will save just one life - why don’t they use the same logic regarding automobiles?

Look, we know that we old people have more trouble seeing at night and that young people don’t - so this approach opens the door to a conversation about the insanity of driving at night - or the insanity of driving at all - without focusing on the age thing.

Once we’ve acknowledged there is an age factor.. perhaps we can go to the next step…. the fact that we can’t turn our necks, etc.. :-)

And perhaps you should offer us a free Uber account.

I’m only 73 and I’m already leary of driving at night - especially in the winter when it gets dark during rush hour. If I had a free uber account I’d give away my keys in a heartbeat.


23 posted on 09/06/2025 6:18:40 AM PDT by enumerated (81 million votes my ass)
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To: Sacajaweau
--- "put miles driven un the equation. i’m 80...I drive 1000 miles a year."

You'll hear me, close behind in age. And yet my bride and I went from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic in a leisurely, we-have-no-precise-plan manner. I did all the driving, and she all the navigation. Saw trucking accidents a plenty in our travels.

I fully empathize with those anecdotes on this thread, but each case is an individual case. I took my mother's keys and DL from her many years ago, and then saw to all her needs thereafter. In contradisctincion, my FIL drove until 95. So anecdotes are anecdotes and stats are stats.

24 posted on 09/06/2025 6:19:33 AM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: Codeflier
--- "...those under 30 are all worse per miles driven."

I found similar stats. Good on you for being willing to debate from sources. All best.

25 posted on 09/06/2025 6:20:59 AM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: alloysteel
--- "There are old drivers, and there are bold drivers. There are no old, bold drivers."

Good on you. That was funny and wise. This old guy is conservative in politics and conservative in driving habits. All best.

26 posted on 09/06/2025 6:23:07 AM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: DoodleBob

Best solutions?

The Family take care of weaning them off driving. I have been through that 6 times.

It is NOT about age. It is about Mental Awareness and Physical Ability. It is also related to where they live.

In large city, it is not even safe for young people. There are places where Jet Fighter Pilot are not safe.

I’m 77 now, traveled on business for 40 years, over 2 million miles by auto. Not a single accident. Driving in DC, Houston, or Chicago? I have no desire to be in places like that. Under any circumstances. Insane drivers, insane traffic, insane hostile drivers, insane unsafe other drivers.


27 posted on 09/06/2025 6:24:12 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Texas is not about where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind and Attitude.)
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To: V_TWIN

I’m 77.

Traveled 2,000,000 road miles over 40 year span. ZERO accidents.

I have convinced 6 family members it was time for them to stop driving. Had no issues doing it.

The State and FedGov have no business making that call.

I know some young drivers who are not safe behind a wheel.


28 posted on 09/06/2025 6:28:34 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Texas is not about where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind and Attitude.)
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To: FamiliarFace

My wife at 83 doesn’t have that problem.

Her IPhone using WAZE permits her to find her way wherever she wants to go.


29 posted on 09/06/2025 6:31:56 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Where is ZORRO when California so desperately needs him?)
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To: A Formerly Proud Canadian

Bump


30 posted on 09/06/2025 6:32:41 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Texas is not about where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind and Attitude.)
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To: V_TWIN

Illinois had a law where when you reached into the 70s, you had to take a drivers exam. After doing a study, they found the older drivers were safer than the younger ones. So they raised the age.


31 posted on 09/06/2025 6:34:42 AM PDT by roving
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To: DoodleBob
If it comes to that:
1. Provide a chauffeur.

2. Offer to be the chauffeur.


32 posted on 09/06/2025 6:34:44 AM PDT by Savage Beast (NOTHING enkindles anger, hate, violence, and murderous fury like Truth threatening guarded delusion.)
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To: V_TWIN

I’m 68. In NC they recently let me renew my license simply by affirming that my vision is unchanged. Which it is, but who’s going to tell the truth?


33 posted on 09/06/2025 6:35:20 AM PDT by Locomotive Breath
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To: bert

Most accidents are caused by young, reckless drivers. Watch any compilation of crash videos, and you will see it’s mostly younger people.


34 posted on 09/06/2025 6:38:02 AM PDT by roving
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To: enumerated

You raised an interesting issue......Uber.

If you calculate the annual cost for owning a car, add the cost of operating it might turn out that Uber is better.

As an old person, having Uber account might be better than owning and driving a car.

If there is a need or a desire to travel, rental might still be less expensive.


35 posted on 09/06/2025 6:41:08 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Where is ZORRO when California so desperately needs him?)
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To: V_TWIN

The DMV would at least have legal authority.

An elderly adult who has not been declared incompetent can simply tell people to buzz off and mind their own business.


36 posted on 09/06/2025 6:41:11 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
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To: DoodleBob

It is a difficult decision and process.

On the one hand is the fact that many independent activities, and keeping them independent, also support mental health in the elderly, as the mind continues to do as needed to navigate them.

On the other hand, what has to be recognized, when it is obvious, is when that independence is no longer working.

Its a hard process just within the elderly persons own family.

My brother has a lady friend in her 70s, and for her family the issue with her driving was none of the things listed. Her driving issues was she would temporarily lose her way, take a wrong turn, and wind up late getting somewhere or getting home because of what it took to get back on a familiar route to her destination.


37 posted on 09/06/2025 6:42:44 AM PDT by Wuli (uire)
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To: roving

Most is not the issue.

the probability of a serious accident on the interstate for many old drivers, especially old and cautious women drivers is high.


38 posted on 09/06/2025 6:43:44 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Where is ZORRO when California so desperately needs him?)
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To: DoodleBob

Jere is what we did...got two people, me, the DIL, and then a step-daughter to write individual letters to DMV about my MIL driving problems. We cited issues (speeding, getting lost in this small community, etc.) She got a letter in the mail requesting she come for a drivers test...or lose her license. She never went for the test...and knew she could not drive.


39 posted on 09/06/2025 6:44:03 AM PDT by goodnesswins (Democracy to Demo rats is stealing other peoples money for their use, no matter how idiotic)
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To: V_TWIN

You’re not 70 yet, are you?


40 posted on 09/06/2025 6:45:42 AM PDT by oldbill
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