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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: DoodleBob

later


81 posted on 09/06/2025 10:08:31 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Import The Third World,Become The Third World)
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time
"75+ ------ 3,556"

Well, as a 92-year-old driver, I sure wish they would get all those 16-to-74-year-old "unsafe" drivers out of my way...

Been driving since the age of 10, got my first car at 11, and got my driver's license at 12...

82 posted on 09/06/2025 10:22:28 AM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is rabble-rising Sam Adams now that we need him? Is his name Trump, now?)
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To: DoodleBob

I’d give up driving in a heartbeat if the self-driving vehicle concept became a safe alternative.

I’ve never liked driving. And now knowing that so many illegals are on the road... I can’t stop driving soon enough.

My dad was a driving fool. I did not inherit that mindset.


83 posted on 09/06/2025 10:28:25 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam (It's hard not to celebrate the fall of bad people. - Bongino)
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To: DoodleBob

NZ had about 95% jabbed for the Wu Hu Flu

Actually that requirement for a physical etc to continue driving helped saved my father’s life in 1978...

He needed a heart transplant...

he received a partial a few weeks later and lived another 15 years...

he never felt sick, so he had not gone to a doctor in decades at that time...


84 posted on 09/06/2025 10:37:23 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: DoodleBob

... another reason to not buy a new car. They are becoming black-boxes that cannot be maintained by anyone other than an authorized dealer and they tattle on you in near real-time.


85 posted on 09/06/2025 11:35:36 AM PDT by Tallguy
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To: Openurmind

None taken.

I understand the process. They are not all easy.


86 posted on 09/06/2025 11:48:37 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: DoodleBob

A friend of mine’s dad was a Sabre jet fighter pilot in the 1950s, then into Super Sabers… then flew several airframes in Vietnam and got a couple of Air Force crosses. Full on fighter pilot forever. The kids at one point had the talk with him about hanging up his spurs and turning over the keys. They thought he’d get angry but were amazed at well it went. But he nodded quietly and listened. He ended by requesting to sleep on it overnight and talk it once more tomorrow at lunch.

He showed up at lunch in a brand new Porsche and says “this is the nicest way I could think of to tell you kids to go F yourselves”!
He lived inside their OODA loop until the day he died. That was back in the days our USAF pilots had freaking fangs!

100% true story!


87 posted on 09/06/2025 11:51:36 AM PDT by DesertRhino (When men on the chessboard, get up and tell you where to go…)
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To: Openurmind
The 40 years was my business career, until I moved back to spend 25+ years taking care of sick and or elderly family. (also keep the farms operating)

I don't travel as much.

Got my drivers license as a freshman in high school. It was in 1962. I've had a driver's license since then.

Prior to that I was driving a tractor when I was 10, my brother & I had a 1947 Willies Jeep that we drove around the farm. And hauled my grandfather.

My brother and I were hunting with the men when we were 10 and 12. We were very good at hunting quail and dove. We had great bird dogs, over the years we had 4.

Dad bought my bother and I our first gun. It was a single shot, full choke, 20 gauge shotgun. It was a Remington pattern by their subsidiary in Brazil. I still have mine. Great little gun.

88 posted on 09/06/2025 12:02:37 PM 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: DoodleBob

Good analysis. Also, some elderly people have broken their backs or necks simply by a minor accident that wouldn’t impact a young person at all. Especially at risk are those on blood thinners like Eliquis.


89 posted on 09/06/2025 12:04:20 PM PDT by Codeflier (Don't worry....be happy )
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To: dforest

I don’t like Google, they already intrude in my life more than I can tolerate. I still am able to get where I want to go without navigation system.

I love technology, but hate what Large Tech has do to us.


90 posted on 09/06/2025 12:08:52 PM 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: Texas Fossil

This is one thing I do like. I only use it when I am not at all familiar with where I am going.

But, I agree with you about google.


91 posted on 09/06/2025 12:17:18 PM PDT by dforest
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To: All

Largely missing from this discussion is the issue of elderly drivers with dementia. I can tell you (from experience) that they lack any capability to listen or reason. I fought the good fight for 2 years early in my husband’s dementia journey to stop his driving enduring unfettered rage and fear of physical retaliation whenever I oh-so-gently raised the issue of not driving anymore. I finally had to hide the keys and disable his truck. It’s a fight I wouldn’t wish on anybody. 54 years of marriage and he truly despised me for the last 4 years of his life. Pray you never have to deal with a demented driver prone to road rage.


92 posted on 09/06/2025 1:12:05 PM PDT by torqemada ("Give it time," said Karma. It is hard, but worth the wait.)
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To: wintertime

It is what it is. Sad yes, but at least to my knowledge he didn’t live long enough to hurt anyone.


93 posted on 09/06/2025 2:17:59 PM PDT by navymom1 (God bless President Trump!)
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To: Texas Fossil

OK, thank you... Appreciate the explanation very much.


94 posted on 09/06/2025 2:37:50 PM PDT by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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