Dealing with a decline in a senior's driving ability

This guide will help you find ways to help your parents, should you suspect a decline in driving ability. Driving skills vary enormously among all age groups, but in general these skills begin to decline from age 55 on. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the most common problems with seniors driving is the failure to yield the right of way, making improper left turns, and the inability to back up, get on and off freeways, negotiate blind spots and react quickly.

A family discussion about senior driving ability can be a sensitive topic. For many older adults, particularly those who live in suburban or remote communities, driving is closely tied to independence. You need to be able to broach the subject with diplomacy and be prepared to suggest other ways for your parents to maintain independence and get around.

Before you panic, spend a bit of time learning about what it takes to be a safe driver and how age affects driving ability. When you begin talking to your parents, at least you'll have some facts on hand.

Experts believe that 90 percent of the information we need to drive comes through our eyes, especially our peripheral vision. As we age, we need more light to see clearly, find it harder to adjust to glare from oncoming headlights and have difficulty refocusing from light to dark. Judging distances also becomes more difficult.

People with hearing loss have difficulty detecting high-pitched sounds from sirens, horns and train whistles. Plus reaction time in older adults is slower, making high-volume traffic conditions and negotiating busy intersections challenging. Making matters even worse, older drivers are more likely to be taking medications, some of which cause drowsiness or confusion.

Take action

If you suspect a decline in driving ability, you can take the following steps to protect your parents and others:

Start by taking a ride with Mom or Dad. This will either confirm your suspicions or allay your fears. Look for any of the following warning signs:
- Changing lanes without signaling
- Going through red lights or stop signs
- Reacting too slowly, and straying into other lanes or onto the side of the road.
- Showing significant hesitancy at intersections, making jerky stops and starts, and driving too slowly or too fast
- Having difficulty making left turns and merging
If you notice any problems, suggest that your parents attend either the AARP Driver Safety Program Classroom Course or the AARP Driver Safety Program Online Course. Not only will they learn how to assess their driving skills and find out about any new rules of the road, they'll automatically receive a reduction in their auto insurance rates.

The AARP driving tests and classroom course are taught by trained volunteers and the fee is small. The online course is well-structured with the same information and the fee is also minimal. To find a class near your parent, call the local AARP chapter listed in the blue pages of the phone book or go to aarp.org.
Help your parents adjust to their ability as a senior driver. Share with them the following tips for older drivers from AARP and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation:
- Make sure you can easily see over the dashboard.
- Check that your feet easily reach the pedals.
- Make sure the steering wheel, mirrors and seats are adjusted properly.
- Avoid night driving, driving in rush hour, and being on the road in bad weather.
- Limit driving to short distances.
- Plan and know the route in advance.
- Create more simplified routes to favorite places, avoiding challenging merges and intersections.
- Get regular medical check-ups that include vision and hearing tests and check your medications to make sure they’re not interfering.
- Stay a safe distance behind the cars in front of you to make up for slower reaction time.
- Look ahead to get a jump on trouble.
- Avoid buying cars with heavily tinted windshields & windows.
- Keep headlights clean.
- Use night glasses to reduce glare.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has created a state-of-the-art, computer-based driving tool that you can take privately on your own computer. You will be able to measure your driving abilities and learn if your level of functioning places you at risk for an accident. Call your local AAA to order a CD or click here to download the free program.

The bottom line

As we age, our driving skills decline. Vision problems, hearing loss, slower reaction time and the impact of prescription drugs can all contribute to the problem.
If you suspect that your parents may be having trouble driving, there are several steps you can take, including suggesting senior driver safety classes and helping them make small adjustments to their car and their driving habits.
Having a discussion about your parents' driving ability requires sensitivity to their concerns about the loss of independence. For help, check out resources available from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and AARP.