Deciding when to talk to an older driver about their driving, and perhaps taking away their car and car keys, is a very difficult.

As a group, older drivers are typically safe. The actual number of accidents involving older drivers decreases as age increases. Experts believe that older adults have fewer accidents because they drive slower, avoid long-distance trips, and don’t drive at night as often.

However, older drivers, especially after age 75, have a higher risk of being involved in a collision when accidents are calculated on a per mile driven basis. Their fatality rate increases slightly after age 65 and significantly after age 75 as older drivers cannot withstand the physical trauma that often occurs.

Although there may be no obvious way to ensure whether your dad is still a safe driver, ongoing family discussions and objective assessments help older drivers and their families evaluate the risks in their own unique situation.

Losing the ability to drive reduces one’s independence. It’s one of the most feared losses facing an older adult. But, hearing sensitive information from the right person can make a big difference. What you say or don’t say influences the decisions of older adults and can make the difference between safety or injury – life or death. Although unsafe driving may be an uncomfortable and sometimes argumentative subject, discussions about driving made over time will help older adults understand family concerns and usually leads to agreements to drive less, avoid certain road conditions, or stop driving altogether if necessary.

Older adults typically prefer to speak confidentially about safe driving with someone they trust. To increase the chances of success, families should choose the right person to initiate the ongoing discussion and have others reinforce these discussions. Often family members can form a united front with doctors and friends to help older drivers make good driving decisions.

Additionally, older drivers should be encouraged to participate in safe driving classes. These classes include 55 Alive sponsored by AARP and the Rules of the Road sponsored by the Illinois Secretary of States office. These classes are held periodically in local senior adult centers.

Use this link for more information about talking with older drivers (3.02 MB).

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