Having a conversation with an elderly relative about their driving isn’t always easy. The conversion can be awkward because they are an independent person. Getting older doesn’t automatically mean they have to stop driving. Seniors can maintain their independence, cultivate an active lifestyle, and sustain relationships with loved ones. However, as they get older, their age may make it harder for them to drive safely. Seniors can pose a severe danger when their body stops working the way it used to.
4 Signs It’s Time for Your Elderly Loved One to Stop Driving
While telling our elderly loved ones it’s time to stop driving can be a difficult conversation, it is necessary for their safety and the safety of others. Many older adults are still safe drivers, so it’s better to not assume their old age makes them poor drivers. A good approach is to keep an eye on your elderly loved one and watch for warning signs before bringing up the conversation.
1. Physical and Cognitive Changes
While not every senior is going to experience physical and cognitive changes that will prevent them from driving, some of them will, and those changes make them dangerous behind the wheel. Physical and cognitive changes that can make a senior a dangerous driver include:
- Decreased vision
- Impaired hearing
- Pain or stiffness in the neck
- Leg pain or weakness
- Slower reaction time
- Worsened multi-tasking abilities
Any condition that decreases a senior’s ability to drive safely places them at risk of an accident. For their protection, they should be discouraged from driving.
2. Their Car Has Fresh Dents and Scrapes
While it’s possible dents and scratches could have come from being parked in a crowded parking lot, they may also be a result of their slow reflexes. Dents and marks on their car are a good indicator that they may not be as responsive as they need to be behind the wheel.
3. Their Driving Habits Have Changed
Significant changes in their driving habits are red flags. Understanding your elderly loved one’s driving habits is beneficial for recognizing when it might be time to keep them off the wheel. Looking out for how they obey traffic laws and seeing how they respond to situations will help you determine whether they should continue driving.
4. Driving Becomes Stressful, Confusing, Exhausting
An elderly older adult working hard to compensate for physical challenges may feel driving is more stressful and tiring. They may also show signs of confusion, anger, or may even be more easily distracted. Signs that driving is getting harder for older drivers include:
- Getting lost in familiar areas
- Struggling to back up or turn the car around
- Having trouble seeing traffic signs
- Mixing up the gas and brake pedals
- Slower response time to unexpected situations
- Having road rage
If your elderly loved one becomes confused behind the wheel, it can lead to close calls and accidents. Protect them and others by letting them know they need to stop driving for their safety.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers at Dalli & Marino
While we all try to take all necessary precautions to keep our elderly loved ones safe, accidents happen. It’s a scary and sometimes profoundly emotional experience when our elderly loved one is injured. Dalli & Marino is one of the most experienced and successful personal injury and nursing home abuse law firms in New York. Our personal injury lawyer’s goal is to provide injured people with the best personal and legal services to help secure the fair compensation they deserve.
Schedule a consultation today by calling (888) 465-8790 or filling out this form.
