Many adult children are eventually faced with the unpleasant task of deciding when it is no longer safe for their parent to drive a car. The decision to be made is when to “put on the brakes” and hang up the keys. It is made even harder because the decision is difficult for many older drivers to make on their own.
There are several typical factors that usually influence the issue:
MENTAL Reaction time is one of the most crucial functions to safe driving. This slows with age but increasing distance between other cars and objects may help some older drivers.
VISION Good vision is essential to safe driving. An older person may notice some difficulties focusing on objects and switching focus from near to far. Peripheral vision may also change with age. This is significant because about 98% of what we see when we drive is first seen peripherally. Driving at night may become more difficult due to clarity in sight issues. As we get older, we need more light to see clearly. Approaching headlight glare may make it harder to adjust to.
HEARING Some hearing loss is common among people age 65 and older. High pitched sounds may become less audible long before low pitched ones do. This is important because horns, sirens & train whistles are high pitched. Studies have shown that people who have hearing difficulties are more likely to be inattentive to their surroundings. Family and friends who suspect an older person doesn’t hear well should recommend a hearing exam and offer to go with the older person to get one.
What should you do if you or another family member is concerned about a parent’s driving ability? It’s important to recognize that being able to drive is often an indicator of independence to a senior. Once that is taken away, there is often resentment, depression, and anger. And, there is often anxiety or loneliness because they may have fewer opportunities to be with friends or involved in activities.
It is also important to maintain a sense of trust and respect, while being honest about your observations and persistent in your need to reach resolution. If your parent is defiant or will not discuss the issue, it may be best to enlist the support of a professional, such as a doctor.
