When Should Grandpa (or Grandma) Stop Driving
When Should Seniors Stop Driving?
One of the hardest thing that a care giver in my family ever had to do was to take the car keys away from an elderly grandpa. He had been drving well since before World War II, and in fact, drove a jeep in that conflict. But when he passed his 80th birthday, some consequences of diabetes made him an unsafe driver. All of the signs were there, including fender benders, bad eyesight, and even being found in the car (parked, lucky for us!) fast asleep at one point!
It had to be done, but it was not easy. Of course, this aged member of the family was incredibly offended. But on some level, he knew his caregiver was right. After an initial arguement, he got used to calling the senior bus his community provided, taking walks, or asking other family members for rides. It worked out ok.
Do You Need To Take Grandpa’s (or Grandma’s) Car Keys?
We found a good AARP article on warning signs that seniors need to step driving. Most of these are pretty obvious, but some are easier to overlook. It may not be time for the senior to stop driving all together, or it may be. There are some good senior driving courses or regular defensive driving refresher courses that may be helpful too.
- Are thre some unexplained dents on the car, or have you noticed more frequent near-accidents?
- Is Grandma or Grandpa getting lost more often, or even having more trouble following road signs and directions?
- Have you noticed that a senior driver seems to be responding slowly to traffic signals and other traffic situations, or even confusing the gas and the brake pedal?
- Is it hard for the older driver to turn their heads to see out the window? Is it a strain to keep turning the wheel or use other automobile controls?
- Has Grandma or Grandpa started getting some traffic tickets or warnings for disobeying traffic rules? Most of us had have a ticket in our lives, but a change in frequency can be a big warning sign.
- Obviously, if an older person, or any person, has a health condition which may put them at risk for an accident, this situation should be evaluated. For example, many diabetics cannot drive because they are at risk of losing consciousness behind the wheel.
If you think you should speak to an elderly person about their driving, but have no idea how to confront them, refer to this video for some great tips! Speak To Seniors About Driving!
Is A Seniors Still A Good Driver, But Hit By High Car Insurance Rates?
Some insurers will not cover drivers over age 80. They consider them high risks, just like they consider teen drivers as high risks. Other insurers cover older drivers, but may increase rates which can be tough to budget for when so many seniors live on fixed incomes.
Some older people still need transportation, and many elderly people are still working! Of course you may find alternative transportation that will be cheaper than covering and keeping up a vehicle. But you can find some good ways to find lower rates on good coverage here – Senior Car Insurance.